Some Similarities And Differences Between The 1960s Civil Rights Song "We Shall Not Be Moved" And The 2020s Affirmation & Rallying Cry "We Will Not Be Silenced"

Boston University, Nov 5, 2015

The Freedom Singers perform "We Shall Not Be Moved" at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents my opinion about some of the similarities and differences between the 1960s civil rights song and the 2020s affirmation* and rallying chant "We will not be silenced".

* "affirmation" ="positive assertion" 

Information about and examples of this civil rights song and this affirmation/rallying chant are presented in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/singing-resistance-adapted-versions-of.html for the related pancocojams post "Singing Resistance" - Adapted Versions Of "We Shall Not Be Moved", "I Won't Be Silent" And Some Other Songs Included In Anti-Ice Protests (2025, 2026).

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SHOWCASE VIDEO SHORT - WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED 

@newsonkfdm, February 5, 2025

Protesters at the Pennsylvania Capitol chant "We will not be silenced"

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SOME SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE 1960s CIVIL RIGHTS SONG "WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED" AND THE 2020S AFFIRMATION/ RALLYING CHANT "WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED" 

SIMILARITIES
The 1960s civil rights song and the 2020s affirmation/rallying chant express the determination and conviction of people not to be deterred from their goal.

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The AI Overview #1 that is given in this post about the meaning of the "We will not be silenced" chant also exactly fits the reasons why the civil rights song "We Shall Not Be Moved" was sung during demonstrations, rallies, and marches in the 1960s.

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The civil rights song "We Shall Not Be Moved" and the affirmation/rally chant "We will not be silenced" both appear to have been (are now) vocalized in unison, instead of in a call and response pattern.

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DIFFERENCES
"We Shall Not Be Moved" is a song that has both standard and improvised lyrics. 

"We Will Not Be Silenced" is an affirmation/rallying cry that has a few fixed words.

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The civil rights song "We Shall Not Be Moved"  was adapted from an African American Gospel song.
and was mostly sung by African Americans.

The affirmation/rallying cry "We will not be silenced" is included in several Gospel songs such as Phil Thompson's 1987 song "My Worship". However,  that affirmation/rallying cry isn't attributed to one particular song.

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The civil rights song "We Shall Not Be Moved" was mostly sung by protestors during "demonstrations" (when protestors "picketed" at a location), during marches (when demonstrations moved in mass from one location to another agreed upon location) or during rallies (protest events with speakers and usually musical performers).

Particularly during demonstrations and rallies protestors who sang "We Shall Not Be Moved" swayed to the rhythm of the song and (individually) clapped their hands while they and other people sang that song.  

In contrast, the affirmation/rallying chant" We shall not be silenced" is  vocalized during marches or during rallies (stand in place protest events).

Based on YouTube videos, it appears that the overwhelming majority of the protestors at the marches and rallies in the 2020s-and particularly during the No Kings rallies and anti-ICE rallies in 2025 and 2026 are White people. 

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When the protestors stood in place while singing "We Shall Not Be Moved", they usually swayed from side to side to the rhythm of the song. They also (individually) clapped their hands.

In contrast, it doesn't appear to me that swaying to the rhythm of the song or individual hand clapping are features of "We will not be silenced". 

Singing protest songs was much more a feature of 1960s protests than of 2020s protests. In addition to the differences in the racial composition of these 1960s and 2020s protests (and the cultural differences to how Black Americans and White Americans respond to music), it should be noted that signage (holding signs) wasn't a feature of protests in the 1960s while it is a major feature of protests in the 2020s. Holding a sign or a holding a banner means that protestors don't have their hands free to clap their hands-if they wanted to- in accompaniment of any song that they or other protestors sung.

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TWO AI OVERVIEW WRITE-UPS  ABOUT THE CHANT "WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED"
[Both of these AI Overview are the result of my January 31, 2026 Google search queries about the meanings of the chant "We will not be silenced".] 

AL Overview #1
"We will not be silenced" is a powerful, defiant rallying cry used in protests, marches, and rallies to declare that a group will continue to speak out, resist oppression, and fight for their rights, despite threats, intimidation, or attempts by authorities to suppress their voices. It signals a refusal to be marginalized, ignored, or forced into compliance.

Here is a breakdown of what this slogan means in the context of protests:

Defiance Against Suppression: It is a direct response to attempts by governments, institutions, or opponents to limit freedom of speech, assembly, or dissent.

Solidarity and Unity: It binds protesters together, signifying a shared, collective resistance to injustice.

Assertion of Rights: The phrase is frequently used to assert First Amendment rights (in the U.S.) to show that fear of retaliation or arrests will not stop people from demonstrating.

Visibility for the Marginalized: It is used by activists and marginalized communities (such as LGBTQ+ groups, immigrants, or union workers) to declare that they will not be rendered invisible.

Commitment to Action: It means that the protesters will not go back to "business as usual" and will continue to challenge authority until changes are made.

Contextual Examples:

Anti-war/Social Justice: The phrase has historical roots in the 1960s anti-war movement and continues to be used by various social justice movements to fight systemic inequality.

Civil Disobedience: It is often used when protesters are actively risking arrest or economic retaliation, such as in immigration rallies or anti-detention protests.

Authoritarianism/Oppression: It serves as a declaration of hope and resistance against what demonstrators see as authoritarian actions, fear tactics, or the "criminalization" of protests.

The phrase is essentially an declaration of, "You cannot stop us from fighting for what is right". 

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AI Overview #2 
"We will not be silenced" is a prominent chant and slogan used globally in protests, particularly in 2025, to defy intimidation, resist censorship, and oppose policies related to labor, civil rights, and political movements. It is frequently employed in rallies against authoritarianism, in support of Palestine, and in labor actions, often coupled with phrases like "We will not be intimidated" or "Hands off".

Key contexts for the chant include:

Political Protests (2025): Used during nationwide "No Kings" protests against perceived executive overreach and at "Hands Off" rallies, such as in Boston and Washington, D.C., where labor leaders (e.g., AFGE President Everett Kelley) and activists used it to protest against government actions and in defense of democracy.

Social & Human Rights Issues: Employed by groups protesting racism, misogyny, and, as in 2020, to support activists facing charges, such as during the "Free Tianna Arata" protests.

Pro-Palestine Demonstrations: Used in rallies, where it signifies a refusal to be silenced on issues regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often highlighting a desire to end what protesters consider "inhumane practices".

Meaning: The phrase serves as a declaration of continued resistance, freedom of speech, and a commitment to vocal dissent despite attempts to suppress, intimidate, or ignore the protesters' demands.

It is frequently shouted as a rallying cry to encourage participation and assert that the protesters will not "bow down". "
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This AI Overview write-up is the result of my January 31, 2026 question about the use of this chant. "We will not be silenced" is also given as "I will not be silent" and "I will not be silenced".

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