Springsteen, other stars share stage with hardcore leftist groups at music fest

Performers from a hip-hop band, The Neighborhood Kids, launched the festival with Macklemore's anthem of protest, chanting, "Free, free Palestine!" and continued with a declaration about protesting from "the belly of the beast" against the "funding of genocide" and the "terrorist organization" Immigration and Customs Enforcement." 

It dedicated its performance to "the martyrs" and railed against "Western imperialism."

In the chat, awaiting a livestream broadcast on the Democratic-aligned MS NOW, a user wrote, "BLUE WAVE," symbolizing a anticipated Democratic Party victories in upcoming elections. Others peppered their comments with blue wave and blue heart emojis.

With musical artists passionately urging festival goers to vote Democratic, the event raises questions about whether participating nonprofits cross the line from permissible voter engagement into partisan campaign intervention, which federal tax law prohibits for 501(c)(3) organizations.

Many of the festival's performers and organizers bring a documented history of campaigning for Democrats and far-left activism. Festival organizer Tom Morello, guitarist of the band Rage Against the Machine, has called socialism a "necessity."

Opening the concert after the hip-hop group The Neighborhood Kids, Morello blasted the "fascists and the would-be dictators" and the "oligarchs," symbolic references that protesters have used for almost two years of protests against Trump.

Springsteen endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket in 2024, declaring, "I'm supporting Kamala Harris for president and Tim Walz for vice president." 

He also called Trump "the most dangerous candidate for president in my lifetime."

Artist Dave Matthews participated in the 2020 I Will Vote concert, which his official website promoted as supporting Biden, Harris and Democrats down the ballot. Earlier, Matthews backed socialist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, writing, "When it comes down to it, Bernie Sanders represents what I want from my government."

Artist and festival DJ Shepard Fairey created the iconic Obama "Hope" poster and the "Forward" image supporting Harris in 2024.

"I believe VP Kamala Harris and her VP pick Tim Walz are our best chance to move forward," Fairey wrote on his website. He offered the image for grassroots activism and linked readers to Head Count Inc., a nonprofit receiving proceeds from the festival, to "help fans register to vote and learn more about how to participate in upcoming elections."

Another community partner is Red Emma's, a bookstore in Baltimore with a "Marxism, Socialism & Communism" tab on its website, selling "Teachings of Karl Marx" by communist philosopher Vladimir Lenin, "Black Marxism" and "Flowers for Marx."

The political leanings extend to younger performers. Musician Grandson, whose real name is Jordan Benjamin, has described using his platform to advance climate advocacy, voter registration and youth empowerment through his XX Resistance Fund. In a September 2020 interview, he praised Biden's policy platform and made his electoral preference explicit: "We should elect that dude."

At the festival, he blasted "the AI apocalypse" and sang from a trademark song celebrating the self-immolation of a U.S. service member, Aaron Bushnell, in 2024 at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., protesting Israel's military response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

"Martyrdom is meditation, self-immolation," the musician sang, bouncing on stage.

At Power to the People, the concept of "solidarity" comes with a VIP upgrade. The festival pairs its message of collective action with a familiar concert-business model: tiered admission, exclusive viewing areas and premium hospitality. Fans can choose between People's Park lawn admission, People's Pavilion access and the Solidarity Circle VIP package, which offers reserved seating, expedited entry and an "exclusive VIP deck with premium bar and food available for purchase."

The top-tier "Robinhood Package," branded a "VIP SUPER SUITE," adds an exclusive suite, a dedicated viewing area at the second stage and an elevated balcony advertised as offering "the very best view of the stage and the festival." Buyers also receive a commemorative poster and laminate, a phone-charging station and a "VIP host with concierge service for bar/food available for purchase." Even at the highest tier, the advertised refreshments cost extra.

Organizers say the premium packages serve a charitable purpose, but the website uses differing descriptions of the donation pledge. Its overview promises a portion of all ticket proceeds and "100% of the net proceeds from VIP tickets" to VoteRiders and Head Count.

The package descriptions instead promise "all proceeds from VIP sales" to nonprofits supporting human rights and social justice.

The commercial offerings extend beyond the venue. The festival's website promotes a paid membership with its livestream partner, MS NOW, advertising access to "daily live interactions and Q&As" with personalities including Democratic-aligned hosts Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Al Sharpton and Joe Scarborough and Jen Psaki, a former Biden spokeswoman.

Alongside calls for "grassroots organizing" and "mutual aid," the event offers a marketplace of upgraded access, media subscriptions and "hospitality."

Back on stage with the Neighborhood Kids, the hip-hop artists continued their blast of ICE and pumped their fists in the air to inspire the concertgoers. "Power to the people!" they shouted.

"Rest in peace to all the martyrs," one member of the group yelled. "Free the world! Free Palestine! Free Congo! Free Armenia! Free Sudan! And free everywhere in the world from Western imperialism."

"And we got merch in that tent!" the member of the group continued, pointing toward the "Freedom Village," as another yelled "¡Viva la revolución!"