Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, and Michael Stipe Unite for Democracy Now! 30th Anniversary
In a rare and celebrated performance, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, and Michael Stipe joined forces on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Riverside Church in New York City to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Democracy Now!. The performance culminated in a powerful rendition of Smith’s iconic anthem, “People Have the Power,” alongside Aaron Dessner of The National, Alynda Segarra of Hurray for the Riff Raff, and Smith’s bandmates Tony Shanahan and Jesse Paris Smith.
A Night of Music and Activism
The 30th-anniversary event drew over 2,000 attendees and featured a diverse lineup of speakers, and performers. Angela Davis, a prominent activist and academic, participated in a conversation hosted by Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman, Juan González, and Nermeen Shaikh. Palestinian writer Mosab Abu Toha shared his poem “Under the Rubble” and recounted his experiences surviving Israel’s war on Gaza, where he lost 30 family members. V (formerly Eve Ensler) also contributed to the evening’s program, and excerpts from the documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” about Amy Goodman and the history of Democracy Now! were shown.
Springsteen’s Surprise Performance and Upcoming Protest
Bruce Springsteen surprised the audience with a performance of his recently released protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis.” He is scheduled to appear at the No Kings protest march in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, alongside Joan Baez and Maggie Rogers.
“People Have the Power” – A Unified Message
The evening concluded with a collaborative performance of “People Have the Power,” bringing together all the musical guests in a powerful display of unity and a call to action. The full two-and-a-half-hour event is available to stream on the Democracy Now! website.
Democracy Now! Celebrates Three Decades
Democracy Now!, a non-profit news program, has been providing independent, progressive journalism for 30 years. The anniversary event highlighted the organization’s commitment to covering critical issues and amplifying marginalized voices. KNSJ carries Democracy Now! Monday through Friday from 7-9 am and 6-7 pm.