Wisconsin students walk out after song cut from concert over Marsha P. Johnson dedication

"A school board in Watertown, Wisconsin has voted 7-1 to remove "A Mother of a Revolution!," an instrumental piece dedicated to Marsha P. Johnson, from the school's upcoming spring concert, according to local NBC affiliate WTMJ. The decision led to protest from students, family and community members. Following the Tuesday vote, the Watertown Wind Symphony will not be allowed to perform the song, which has no lyrics, despite having spent months preparing it for the upcoming show."

"School board members said the composition flouted the district's "controversial issues" policy. However, as previously reported by Wisconsin Public Radio, band director Reid LaDew followed the policy and gave parents advance notice about the piece in October. In a note sent home with students, LaDew wrote, "The purpose behind studying Mother of a Revolution is not to provoke controversy, but to deepen students' understanding of how music reflects the diverse experiences of humanity.""

"Students in Watertown, Wisconsin staged a walkout on Wednesday after the school board voted to remove a piece of music dedicated to beloved transgender organizer Marsha P. Johnson from the school's upcoming spring concert. Local ABC affiliate WISN reported that hundreds of students left class and staged a protest outside of Watertown High School on Wednesday. With signs like "It's just music," "Let them play," and "We stand with the band," the students rallied against the decision by the school board made Tuesday night, which some said was made to end "indoctrination.""

""The school board hasn't listened to what we are saying," Alexis Fisher, a student at the high school, told the TV station. "We stand for this piece. It is just a piece - it's music with no lyrics. It's not like the past of the piece should affect us learning. They're taking away our learning.""

A Watertown, Wisconsin school board voted 7-1 to remove “A Mother of a Revolution!” from an upcoming spring concert. The piece is an instrumental dedication to Marsha P. Johnson and was prepared by the Watertown Wind Symphony for months. After the Tuesday vote, hundreds of students walked out of class and protested outside Watertown High School. Protest signs included “It’s just music,” “Let them play,” and “We stand with the band.” Some supporters said the removal was intended to end “indoctrination.” School board members cited the district’s “controversial issues” policy, while the band director said parents were notified in advance and that studying the piece aimed to deepen understanding of how music reflects diverse human experiences.

Read at Advocate.com