A Colorado high school senior was blocked from painting a Bible verse and Christian imagery on her personal parking space, sparking claims of a First Amendment violation.
The incident occurred at Rampart High School in Academy School District 20, where some students are allowed to decorate their spots with personal messages, including religious ones.
Sophia Shumaker was barred by Rampart High School from painting her space with 'a shepherd on a hill, a staff and a sheep, along with a Bible verse,' according to a demand letter sent to the school on 22nd October 2025.
Shumaker told KKTV 11 News: “My identity, everything about me, is through Christ…”, explaining her desire to reflect her faith in her parking space.
Shumaker initially proposed painting a shepherd on a hill with a staff and a sheep, accompanied by the verse “Love is patient, love is kind…” but the school denied the request.
She then tried a subtler design featuring an abbreviated reference, 1 Corinthians 13:4, alongside a neutral image, which was also rejected.
With the support of the First Liberty Institute, which handles religious liberty cases, Shumaker argued in a demand letter that senior parking spaces constitute private speech and cannot be censored for being religious.
Ultimately, she painted a group of fish with one swimming against the crowd, a discreet Christian symbol used by early believers during periods of persecution.
The First Liberty Institute stated: “She has every right to express her faith… Students don’t give up their First Amendment rights at school”.
First Liberty’s letter asks the district to allow Shumaker to repaint her parking space with her original design and to revise its policy banning religious messages. The district has until 31st October 2025 to respond.
Shumaker said she hopes her story will inspire other students to stand up for their beliefs.