The Watertown school board voted 7-1 to remove an instrumental piece tied to LGBTQ+ history from an upcoming high school spring concert, prompting an emotional public meeting filled with protests from students, parents and community members.

The controversy centered on “A Mother of A Revolution!” a composition by Omar Thomas written to honor transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson and the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a series of protests led by LGBTQ+ people in response to a police raid in New York City.

The Watertown Wind Symphony, made up of more than 30 high school students, had spent months preparing the piece for its May 18 spring concert.

Wow, it’s an instrumental piece, not even any words. How silly and childish, what a lesson to teach your children who have worked so hard on something.