Idaho bans 'Everyone Is Welcome Here' classroom signs, calling them ideological
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/idaho-bans-everyone-is-welcome-here-classroom-signs-calling-them-ideological/ar-AA1I3ttQ?ocid=windirect&cvid=6e7b752e49f04b65d54787f4f1e0b6e7&ei=64
Story by Chris Hayes (6 July 2025)
Back in March, we brought you the crazy story of Sarah Inama, a history teacher in Idaho who decorated her sixth-grade classroom with inspirational posters. Inama displayed signs with messages such as "In This Room, Everyone Is Welcome, Important, Accepted, Respected, Encouraged, Valued, Equal," along with an even more straightforward one showing children's raised hands with the tagline "Everyone Is Welcome Here."
Earlier this year, Inama shared that her school's administration ordered her to take down the posters. She said officials told her the signs were in violation of district policy and that, in "today's political environment, they're considered a personal opinion."
Inama told a local news station that after meeting with administration officials, she went back to her classroom, put the signs back up and emailed her school's principal "and said, 'I just ... I don't agree. I don't agree that this is a personal opinion. I feel like this is the basis of public education.'"
Ultimately, Inama ended up resigning in May. And on July 1, a new law went into effect in Idaho that prohibits flags or banners depicting political viewpoints from being displayed in public K-12 classrooms.
The state's attorney general, former Republican Rep. Raúl Labrador, put out guidance for enforcement of the new law, writing that the Idaho Department of Education "must consider whether the displayed flag or banner illustrates or shows someone's opinion, emotions, beliefs, or thoughts regarding politics, economics, society, faith, or religion."
Now, if you're thinking, "Oh, that's pretty general." No, Labrador's guidance specifically references Inama and the phrase "All Are Welcome Here."
So, when you hear Republicans talking about fighting the "woke" culture, keep an eye on what they decide to cancel because it "might offend someone," and then ask yourself: Who exactly is it that is offended by such a sign?
I suppose that a sign saying "Some people are unwelcome here" would be okay in that case. :o
Quote from: KathyLauren on Yesterday at 10:21:05 AMI suppose that a sign saying "Some people are unwelcome here" would be okay in that case. :o
That would be a logical conclusion. It's shocking to me that 'All are welcome here' is now viewed as a forbidden political statement.
Love always -- Jessica Rose
Seems like a very odd thing to do.
They're just being honest, right? This is one of those governments that has been making it clear that anybody who isn't like them is not welcome, so it would be dishonest for them to continue to claim "everyone is welcome here."