Dave Matthews Criticizes ICE During Concert After Recent Shooting

Dave Matthews, the lead singer of the Dave Matthews Band, spoke out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a concert on Friday. He expressed strong disapproval of the actions of ICE agents, referring to them as “a–holes.” Matthews questioned why society finds reasons to harm each other, particularly through violence, in a statement captured in a widely circulated video.

During the performance, Matthews mentioned Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man killed by ICE in Houston, Texas. Matthews highlighted the incident to his audience stating, “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.” Araujo was shot when he allegedly attempted to ram ICE officers with his vehicle during a traffic operation.

Matthews acknowledged the potential for his language to offend Araujo’s family, friends, or community but emphasized his anger over the incident. He dedicated his remarks to Araujo’s memory.

According to an ICE spokesperson, Araujo, a Mexican citizen and illegal immigrant, was shot and killed after “weaponizing his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer.” This led an officer to fire in self-defense during their early morning operation.

Matthews’ disapproval of ICE activities is not new. He previously condemned the agency following the death of activist Renee Good in Minneapolis earlier this year. At that time, Matthews used Instagram to express his views, stating, “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. We should be housing the homeless. We shouldn’t be, you know, throwing people to the ground.” He questioned the official narrative regarding Good’s death, which was witnessed by many in Minneapolis.

The concert and Matthews’ comments occurred amid ongoing criticisms and protests against ICE in various U.S. cities, including a vigil for Araujo held in Houston shortly after his death.