“A Mother of a Revolution!” by gay and Black composer Omar Thomas was removed from a Watertown high school spring concert after a 7-1 school board vote. Board members cited the district’s policy on controversial issues and claimed the piece could inspire political violence. Student protests followed, with hundreds walking out at Watertown High School and carrying signs saying “It’s just music.” Students also walked out at Riverside Middle School in support, leading to a partial lockdown and a “cautionary lock and hold” status. The performance will occur Wednesday night at a local church, led by the composer and played by students who were previously denied the chance to perform it.
"“A Mother of a Revolution!” by gay and Black composer Omar Thomas was stripped from the local high school's spring concert last week at a chaotic meeting of the Watertown Unified School District, where screaming board members said the composition was in conflict with its “controversial issues” policy and would inspire “political violence.”"
"“This is a perfect example of what everyone here ran on, which was ending indoctrination in the classrooms and radical curriculum,” said Board Vice President Sam Ouweneel, who spoke for the majority in the 7-1 vote to remove the music from the annual school concert."
"Hundreds of students at Watertown High School walked out of class the day after the vote, carrying signs and chanting. “We were protesting with signs like this,” one student shared with WISN 12 News. “This is my sign. It says, 'It's just music.' Let them play.”"
"Then on Friday, students at Riverside Middle School walked out in support of the high schoolers, forcing their way past a “wall of teachers” after administrators put the school in a partial lockdown following rumors of the students' planned action. The school was under a “cautionary lock and hold” at the time to prevent the walkout, a status reserved for events like th"
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