Francesca Hong for Wisconsin

It's giving ... gubernatorial 😏

Last week, the Watertown School Board voted 7-1 to ban "A Mother of a Revolution!" from the high school spring concert — a wordless, four-minute instrumental piece that students had been preparing all year.

The board called it "indoctrination" and claimed it could incite political violence, but what they actually object to is the person the piece honors: Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans activist who fought back against the police raid at the Stonewall Inn in 1969.

The students refused to accept it. Hundreds of them walked out of class chanting "Let them play!" while alumni, parents, and neighbors rallied beside them. Tomorrow night, composer Omar Thomas is flying in to conduct the piece at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the kids who were told their music was too dangerous are going to play it anyway.

There is no better civics lesson than the one life hands you, and these students just got a master class in courage they will carry for the rest of their lives.

Music has always been a huge part of my life. My mom went back to school as an adult, earned her music education degree, and is still teaching to this day. Music expresses what words cannot, it builds community, and it carries us through the moments we cannot face alone.

I am so proud of the Watertown students and the community standing with them. Tomorrow night's performance is going to be incredible. These are the things that give me hope.

Composer of 'A Mother of A Revolution!' coming to Watertown to conduct piece Composer Omar Thomas will conduct the piece at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church on Wednesday.

The more I travel the state, the more I realize: The people who live here are really, really great.