folk protest

Folk protest is a tradition of using acoustic music, especially in the style of traditional folk songs, to express political dissent or advocate for social change.

The genre flourished in the American civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s, with artists like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan becoming its most recognized voices.

The songs typically feature simple melodies, direct lyrics about injustice, and an emphasis on collective singing: The rally opened with folk protest standards like "We Shall Overcome".