Imo, having any drums accompanying chanting at poltical protests exemplifies the difference between protests in the early 2000s and protests in the 1960s.

There were no drums accompanying chants during 1960s protests because carrying a drum would impede their mobility. Those protestors knew that carrying a drum would impede them from protecting themselves from life threatening situations-like dogs, and water from fire hoses, and angry mobs.

In contrast, most of the protests in the early 2000s seem to be much less threatening. Indeed, these gatherings of drum playing and people chanting their opposition to a candidate and their support of another candidate seem to be "fun" and somewhat "festive". Or at least it seems that way to me, though, admittedly, I'm on the outside looking in.