A Philadelphia educator and activist has publicly admitted to falsifying her racial and ethnic background over multiple years, claiming Palestinian and Black heritage while working with racial and Palestinian justice organizations.
Philadelphia educator Hannah Gann confesses to fabricating Palestinian and Black ancestry
Hannah Gann, a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, posted a statement to Instagram on [date not specified in sources] acknowledging that she had no Palestinian or Tunisian heritage and identified as a "white woman of significant privilege and wealth." In a follow-up video, Gann stated she had deceived "everyone" in her life, including family, friends, and professional connections, and had hidden her actual background from all parties. She emphasized that her actions were her own and did not reflect the organizations she worked with.
Gann declined further comment to media outlets, directing inquiries back to her public statement. Her confession follows years of activism tied to Palestinian and racial justice causes, during which she presented herself as having Palestinian and Black ancestry.
Philadelphia teacher Keziah Ridgeway describes deception in decade-long friendship
Keziah Ridgeway, another Philadelphia teacher, posted a video response on social media stating that she had been unaware of Gann’s true background during their nearly decade-long friendship. Ridgeway said she first met Gann around 2018 and only learned of Gann’s false claims in 2023. Ridgeway described Gann as someone who "was speaking up for the Black community, for the Palestinian community" without any prior indication of deception.
Organizations sever ties with Gann following admission
The Racial Justice Organizing Committee and Philly Educators for Palestine issued a statement calling Gann’s admission a "betrayal" and announced they had permanently severed ties with her. The groups stated they had met with Gann and, after discussion, she acknowledged the deception. They requested that she publicly acknowledge her identity as a "white woman of Jewish heritage and an Israeli settler family."
Gann’s confession has drawn comparisons online to the case of Rachel Dolezal, who falsely claimed Black identity while leading a local NAACP chapter. Commenters on Gann’s Instagram post referred to her as the "Palestinian Rachel Dolezal" and "Temu Rachel Dolezal," referencing the online retailer Temu.
Gann reiterated in her video statement that she continues to support the causes she advocated for, describing her actions as a "sick, deluded distraction" from those causes. She stated, "I still believe in every cause I ever supported, in the ongoing fight for justice, and in the righteousness of liberation for all oppressed peoples."
Background and professional role
Gann worked as an educator at the Workshop School, a project-based high school in Philadelphia. Her activism included anti-Israel advocacy, which at one point led to a mobile billboard outside her school labeling her "Philadelphia's Leading antisemite." The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Gann is white and Jewish, contradicting her previously claimed heritage.