"Political violence!": Chaotic school board meeting descends into screaming match over Stonewall - LGBTQ Nation

"The Wisconsin school board that threatened to ban a music composition because it honored an LGBTQ+ hero made good on their threat Tuesday night with a near-unanimous vote. At an emotional board meeting in Watertown that erupted in screaming matches among parents, board members, and students, members voted 7-1 to remove the symphonic work honoring Marsha P. Johnson, a prominent participant in the Stonewall Riots in 1969, from a scheduled May 18 performance by students, Wisconsin Public Radio reports."

"One heated exchange saw Board Treasurer Carl Schwarze on his feet, jabbing a finger at a speaker who called the board's judgment into question, while other members said the music, authored by gay Black composer Omar Thomas in 2019, could incite political violence. "Political violence is not something we praise with music or song," said board member Christina DeGrave."

""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 voted to remove the music from the annual student Spring concert. Added Board clerk Tammy Fournier, "I do think everyone should be appalled, but it should be at your music teacher." Board President Laurie Hoffmann was the lone vote against the resolution."

"Watertown resident David Mazzie ripped the board ahead of the vote while he played a recording of the composition, "A Mother of A Revolution!" as he spoke. "I'm sorry that you get your collective panties in a bunch because you are offended by this," Mazzie said of the music. "I'm sorry that our idea of what's fair and what's right only includes the little bubbles that you live in.""

A Wisconsin school board in Watertown voted 7-1 to remove a symphonic composition honoring Marsha P. Johnson from a scheduled May 18 student performance. The meeting became emotional and included screaming matches among parents, board members, and students. Board members cited concerns that the music could incite political violence and framed the decision as part of ending “indoctrination” and “radical curriculum.” The composition was authored by gay Black composer Omar Thomas in 2019. Board President Laurie Hoffmann cast the lone vote against removal. A resident criticized the board while playing the recording “A Mother of A Revolution!” during his remarks.

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