U2 Releases Surprise Anti-ICE Song Honoring Renee Good

The band's new politically-charged EP 'Days of Ash' tackles issues like immigration enforcement and violence

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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U2 has released a surprise EP titled 'Days of Ash' that features a song paying tribute to Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The band says the politically-charged project couldn't wait to be released and confronts injustice and moral fatigue head-on through the stories of individuals whose lives were cut short.

Why it matters

U2 has a long history of using their platform to voice political opinions and take stands on social issues. This new EP continues that tradition, using real-world tragedies as the emotional core of the music and aiming to spur action against perceived injustices.

The details

The six-track 'Days of Ash' EP tackles topics including U.S. immigration enforcement, the war in Ukraine, and violence in the Middle East. The song about Renee Nicole Good, titled 'American Obituary,' describes her fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis and questions why she was labeled a 'domestic terrorist.' The lyrics express outrage at the loss of life and a resolve to rise up against 'the people of the lie.'

  • U2 released the surprise 'Days of Ash' EP on Ash Wednesday 2026.

The players

U2

An Irish rock band known for their socially and politically conscious music and activism.

Renee Nicole Good

A mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“U2's surprise new EP is a politically charged response to what the band describes as 'mad and maddening times,' using real-world tragedies and global flashpoints as its emotional core.”

— Bono (Newsweek)

“Taking political positions has always been central to U2's identity. The band is known for having worked with Amnesty International, Greenpeace and voicing their opinions on political hot topics.”

— Larry Mullen Jr., Drummer (Newsweek)

The takeaway

U2's new politically-charged EP demonstrates the band's continued commitment to using their platform to confront injustice and spur action on social issues, even in the face of moral fatigue and polarization.