A Philadelphia teacher, Hannah Gann, is facing backlash after it was revealed that she fabricated her identity as both Palestinian and Black. Local advocacy groups, including the Racial Justice Organizing Committee (RJOC) and Philly Educators for Palestine (PEFP), announced over the weekend that they have severed ties with Gann, who they claim "completely lied about her identity and background."

Admission of Fabrication

During a meeting with members of both organizations, Gann reportedly admitted to lying about her heritage, which she had claimed included being Palestinian, Tunisian, and Black. The joint statement from RJOC and PEFP stated:

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"We asked her to publicly acknowledge that she is a white woman of Jewish heritage and an Israeli settler family."

They emphasized that Gann would no longer be welcome in their organizing spaces, recognizing the harm caused to various communities whose identities she appropriated.

Gann's Response

In a video statement released on Instagram, Gann expressed remorse for her actions, stating:

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"One of the most sickening aspects of facing what I’ve done is seeing the way that the blowback is falling on people, groups, communities and causes I genuinely care about."