Students Walk Out in Mass Protest After School Board Votes to Remove LGBTQ+ History Piece from Spring Concert
Watertown, WI - Hundreds of students from Watertown High School staged a walkout on Wednesday, May 13th, to protest the school board's decision to remove an instrumental piece of music tied to LGBTQ+ history from their upcoming spring concert. The board voted 7-1 on Tuesday night to prohibit the Watertown Wind Symphony from performing the composition, which had been in practice for months.
The school board cited a "controversial issues policy" and concerns that the piece, reportedly dedicated to transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson and referencing the Stonewall uprising, endorsed "political violence" and constituted "indoctrination." This reasoning was contested by students and some community members who pointed out the composition is wordless and lacks explicit political messaging.
Board Vice President Sam Ouweneel defended the decision, stating it aligned with the platform many board members ran on: "ending indoctrination in the classrooms and ending radical curriculum." Board member Christina DeGrave echoed this sentiment, asserting that "political violence should not be celebrated through music or song."
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Board President Laurie Hoffmann was the sole dissenting vote against the removal. The concert is scheduled to proceed on May 18th without the banned piece.
Community and Student Reactions
The board's decision ignited a heated public meeting Tuesday, with many students, parents, and community members voicing their opposition. Parents and students present at the walkout expressed disappointment with the board's directive. A former director also defended the students and educators involved.
Senior Cooper Wood noted that the walkout garnered support from students across various political viewpoints, suggesting the decision did not represent the broader student body. The instrumental piece in question was reportedly dedicated to Marsha P. Johnson, a key figure in the 1969 Stonewall uprising, a pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ liberation movement. Some students indicated they had not received specific lessons about Marsha P. Johnson in relation to the music.
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The school board members themselves did not provide comment to multiple news outlets following the vote. Board Clerk Tammy Fournier was noted for criticizing the band director for selecting the piece.
