A former Idaho middle school teacher has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that school officials violated her constitutional rights by forcing her to remove a classroom banner that read 'Everyone is Welcome Here' and featured hands of various skin tones.
Sarah Inama, who taught at Lewis & Clark Middle School in Meridian, says the banner had hung in her classroom for years without complaint until early 2025, when the West Ada School District began preparing for the passage of HB 41, a state law banning most political and ideological displays in classrooms. According to the lawsuit, a school official told Inama that the banner's message was 'an opinion that not everyone agrees with.'
Inama initially removed the banner but put it back after students questioned its absence. School officials then accused her of insubordination. In a meeting, a district official reportedly said that 'what may not have had a political message in the past could be one now' and that 'the color of the hands is crossing the political boundary.'
The dispute sparked local and national attention, with students and community members holding a 'Chalk the Walk' protest in support of Inama. She resigned in March 2025, stating it was 'extremely disturbing and embarrassing to see a district prioritize appeasing individuals with racist perspectives over celebrating diversity.'
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador defended the law in a Fox News op-ed, calling the banner part of a 'broader ecosystem of political resistance groups' and 'DEI messaging disguised as inclusion.' The lawsuit names Labrador, the Idaho State Board of Education, the Idaho Department of Education, and school district officials, seeking damages and a declaration that HB 41 violates the U.S. and state constitutions.
The West Ada School District and Idaho Department of Education declined to comment on the pending litigation. The ACLU has criticised HB 41 as akin to censorship.
