Bruce Springsteen

Springsteen brings '41 Shots' to New York

June 13, 2000
Web posted at: 11:50 a.m. EDT (1550 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Cheers overrode the boos Monday night as The Boss introduced New Yorkers to his new song about the police slaying of an unarmed West African immigrant in the Bronx.

Bruce Springsteen sang "American Skin (41 Shots)" for only the second time Monday at the start of a 10-show stint at Madison Square Garden. He first performed the unrecorded song earlier this month in Atlanta.

VIDEO CNN's Mark Scheerer has reaction to the song QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     ALSO 'American Skin (41 Shots)' "Promise me if an officer stops you'll always be polite Never run away and promise mama you'll keep your hand in sight (chorus) Cause is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet? Is this your life?" -- Lyrics performed by Bruce Springsteen in Atlanta on June 4

A heckler who approached the stage flashed obscene hand gestures at Springsteen during the song and was escorted from the arena.

Amadou Diallo, whose mother, Kadiatou Diallo, was in the audience, died when he was shot at his Bronx home in February 1999. He was 22. Officers said they thought Diallo, was going for a gun, but he actually was reaching for his wallet. The officers were acquitted of murder earlier this year.

The "41 shots" in the lyrics refers to the number of times police fired at him, prompting the police union's leaders to call for its members to boycott the concerts.

The song just reopens old wounds, said John Puglissi, first vice president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.

"It's trying to divide the public and the police, and that's something that we desperately do not want or we do not need at this time," he said. "This is a time of healing."

Springsteen's spokesmen declined comment.

The Associated Press and Correspondent Mark Scheerer contributed to this report.

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April 18, 2000
Closing arguments next in Diallo murder trial
February 17, 2000
Defense to begin Wednesday in Diallo murder trial
February 8, 2000
Detective: Bullets fell from Diallo's body as it was lifted from scene
February 2, 2000
Opening statements set in murder trial of New York policemen
February 1, 2000

New York City Police Department
Capital Region Justice For Diallo Committee
Web site for Springsteen fans
Capital Region Justice For Diallo Committee

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