WATERTOWN, Wis. — The Watertown school board voted 7-1 to remove an instrumental piece tied to LGBTQ+ history from an upcoming high school spring concert, prompting an emotional public meeting filled with protests from students, parents and community members.
The controversy centered on “A Mother of A Revolution!” a composition by Omar Thomas written to honor transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson and the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a series of protests led by LGBTQ+ people in response to a police raid in New York City.
The Watertown Wind Symphony, made up of more than 30 high school students, had spent months preparing the piece for its May 18 spring concert.
Watch: Watertown School Board votes to remove song tied to LGBTQ history:
School board members argued the composition violated the district’s controversial issues policy, with some accusing it of endorsing political violence.
Board Vice President Sam Ouweneel defended the decision, saying the vote reflected the platform many board members campaigned on.
“This is a perfect example of what everyone here ran on, and that's ending indoctrination and radical curriculum,” Ouweneel said.
“Political violence should not be celebrated through music or song,” said board member Christina DeGrave.
Board clerk Tammy Fournier criticized the band director for selecting the piece.
“I do think everyone should be appalled, but it should be at your music teacher,” Fournier said.
The band director had followed a board policy by notifying students and families in October that the piece could be considered controversial and offered them the option to opt out of participating. Only three students chose not to perform at the time.
Students involved in the performance said they were never taught lessons about Stonewall or Marsha P. Johnson in class.
Before the vote, dozens of students, parents and local musicians gathered outside the special board meeting to protest the possible removal of the piece. Inside, public comment was extended multiple times as parents and students urged the board to let the music play.
Choir student, Layla Turner, took the stand.
“Music should not be censored because people don’t like what one person has to say. If you don’t like it, then don’t listen to it,” said Turner.
Sophia Anderson, a student in the Watertown Symphony, told board members the ensemble had dedicated months of work to preparing the music.
“It is a band piece with no lyrics that is very technically challenging,” said Anderson. “We have worked so hard for months.”
Several students became emotional while addressing the board, saying the decision felt like a rejection of LGBTQ+ students and community members.
“I don't think you guys understand how hard it is to listen to you guys not accepting,” one student told the board. “I know what it’s like to not be accepted.”
Parents also defended the music instructor, arguing the director had properly followed district policy by notifying families months in advance.
“That should have been the end of the story,” one parent said.
Despite the public outcry, the board voted nearly unanimously to remove the piece from the concert program.
After the meeting, board members declined to answer follow-up questions from TMJ4, including requests for comment from Ouweneel.
The May 18 spring concert will still take place, but “A Mother of A Revolution!” will no longer be allowed on the program.
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