Bruce Springsteen spoke out against political violence, leading fans in prayer following the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner shooting.
“We begin tonight with a prayer for our men and women in service overseas, we pray for their safe return,” Springsteen, 76, said during a concert in Austin, Texas, on Sunday, April 26. “We also send out a prayer of thanks that our president, nor anyone in the administration, nor anyone attending, was injured at last night’s incident at the [White House] press correspondents’ dinner.”
According to fan videos shared via social media, Springsteen continued his prayer by speaking out against the incident at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, April 25. Springsteen has previously been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump’s administration, even performing at a No Kings protest in Minnesota last month.
“We can disagree. We can be critical of those in power, and we can peacefully fight for our beliefs,” the singer added. “But there is no place in any way, shape, or form for political violence of any kind in our beloved United States.”
Political heavyweights gathered alongside members of the media for the annual White House Association Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday. Shots were fired during the evening, sending the ballroom into a panic as attendees were evacuated. One member of the Secret Service was shot but was protected by a bulletproof vest.
The alleged shooter, Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested near the event. He was arraigned on Monday, April 27, and faces three criminal charges: a formal accusation of attempting to assassinate the president, interstate transportation of weapons and discharge of a firearm during a violent crime.
Federal prosecutors alleged on Monday that Allen, 31, was armed with several deadly weapons when he boarded a train to Washington, D.C. He was allegedly found with a 12 gauge pump action shotgun, a .38-caliber semi-automatic pistol and three knives.
Allen’s court-appointed defense attorney told the court on Monday that he was “presumed innocent at this time,” stating that Allen has no prior arrests or convictions.
It was widely reported that Allen sent a letter to family, friends and colleagues 10 minutes before the shooting in which he spoke openly about his dislike for Trump’s administration.
“I experience rage thinking about everything this administration has done,” Allen wrote, claiming that he was targeting “administration officials,” per NBC News.
“I don’t expect forgiveness,” Allen allegedly wrote. “Again, my sincere apologies.”
Trump, 79, discussed the incident in a press conference Saturday night.
“I was totally shocked when something like this happens,” he said. “It happened to me a little bit, and that never changes. The fact, we were sitting right next to each other, first lady on my right, and I heard a noise … I thought it was a tray going down, and it was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. [The suspect] hadn’t reached the area at all. He really got him … but it was a gun.”
