Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church hosted a one-night community performance of "Mother of a Revolution" after the Watertown school board removed it from the high school band’s spring concert.
The board voted last week to cut the work as controversial, even though students had spent months preparing it, prompting residents to organize an alternative venue.
Omar Thomas, the composer, traveled in after hearing about the dispute overseas and conducted current band members and alumni in the performance.
Crowds from across Wisconsin and Illinois lined Ninth Street for the event, turning the canceled school concert piece into a broader show of community support.
How does a local music ban become a flashpoint in a national debate on free expression?
When a school board and community clash over art, who truly speaks for the town's values?
Is a 'values-neutral' public education an achievable ideal or an ideological battleground?
$60,000 Raised After Watertown School Board Bans “A Mother of a Revolution!”: Community and National Response to LGBTQ+ Music Censorship
Overview
On May 12, 2026, the Watertown Unified School District School Board voted 7-1 to ban the high school wind symphony from performing Omar Thomas's 'A Mother of a Revolution!' at their concert, citing the district’s controversial issues policy. The board, led by Vice President Sam Ouweneel, expressed concerns that the piece could promote indoctrination and celebrate violence, especially due to its dedication to Marsha P. Johnson. This decision, influenced by feedback from parents and community members, sparked immediate backlash and led to a community-led performance, highlighting strong local support for artistic freedom and inclusion.