Bruce Springsteen and Colin Kaepernick were honored with the ACLU Ralph Ellison Award for Defenders of Civil Rights and Liberties at the ACLU Biennial Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2026. Kaepernick used his acceptance speech to frame civil liberties as under attack and urged collective action to defend rights and build communities, noting the ongoing costs of standing up for justice. Springsteen, who has long used his platform for social causes, deflected personal credit, saying he is a “concerned citizen” rather than an activist, and dedicated the award to everyday Americans who have risked their beliefs for their neighbors and American ideals while performing an acoustic set of a newer song. The event highlighted a broader recognition of Springsteen’s advocacy, following other recent honors like the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award, and he reiterated a focus on those doing the real work in democracy rather than the spotlight. The two artists’ remarks touched on the enduring fight for civil rights, with Kaepernick drawing a line to his past kneeling protest and Springsteen amplifying the message by directly praising the community-focused efforts that sustain democratic values.