Dave Matthews Criticizes ICE Agents at Concert

Dave Matthews, the lead singer of the Dave Matthews Band, expressed strong disapproval of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a concert on Friday. He labeled them as “a–holes” while addressing the crowd.

During his performance, Matthews questioned societal tendencies towards violence. He said, “I don’t know why we let people make excuses for why we should kill each other.” He reflected on how there are always reasons given to justify violence, which are passed on to children as they grow up. Matthews added, “I wonder what’s wrong with us. I don’t know why we lost our way.”

Anyway, I wanted to say his name. I wrote it down so I didn’t forget it, this young man who was — well, old man, but we’re all young — this father and grandfather who was murdered by ICE in Houston, Texas. And then they say he’s not even the guy — he’s not even the guy they were looking for. Well, then don’t pull the trigger, you a–holes.

Matthews expressed his condolences and anger regarding the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot by ICE officers in Houston. He mentioned, “I’m sorry if that language offends his family or his friends or his community, but it’s just making me mad anyway, so I want to send this to the memory of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.”

According to ICE, Araujo, a Mexican citizen, was shot after attempting to ram ICE officers with his vehicle. ICE stated this occurred during a traffic stop operation and that the officer fired in self-defense.

Dave Matthews has previously criticized ICE. Following the killing of activist Renee Good in Minneapolis during an altercation with ICE agents, Matthews spoke on Instagram. “I don’t want my taxes to pay for ICE, to masked thugs to roam our streets and terrorize our communities and rip families apart,” he declared.

He added the importance of community care, emphasizing, “We should be taking care of each other. We should be minding each other. We should be housing the homeless. We shouldn’t be, you know, throwing people to the ground.” Matthews referenced Renee Nicole Good, stating, “Murdered in front of her fellow citizens in Minneapolis, murdered in the streets.”

A vigil was held for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, with attendees holding signs like “ICE OUT OF HOUSTON.” Fox News Digital sought a comment from ICE but did not receive an immediate response.