Philadelphia Teacher Hannah Gann Admits Lying About Palestinian, Black Identity

A Philadelphia teacher and pro-Palestinian activist, Hannah Gann, has admitted that she lied for years about her racial and ethnic background, including claiming at different times to be Palestinian, Tunisian and Black. The revelation has prompted two activist organisations she worked with to cut ties with her.

Gann, who teaches at The Workshop School in West Philadelphia, was confronted about her background by members of the Racial Justice Organizing Committee and Philly Educators for Palestine earlier in September. According to statements from the organisations, she eventually acknowledged that she had misrepresented her identity.

Gann later addressed the controversy through Instagram posts and a video, describing herself as a “white woman of significant privilege and wealth”. She acknowledged concealing or misrepresenting her background and said she understood that her actions had affected people and organisations she had worked alongside.

Hannah Gann was active in pro-Palestinian activism

Gann became a visible figure in Philadelphia's education and pro-Palestinian activism after the October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza war. She participated in educational events discussing the impact of the conflict on schools and supported other educators involved in pro-Palestinian activism.

Her public profile also included work mentoring Black students and involvement with racial-justice organisations. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that promotional material for a 2024 event had identified her as Palestinian American.

Questions about her claimed ancestry intensified after activists examined records concerning relatives she had previously described as Palestinian. According to reporting reviewed by multiple outlets, records indicated that a grandfather she had described as being born in Palestine was actually born in Baltimore.

Activist groups cut ties with Gann

Following the confrontation, the Racial Justice Organizing Committee and Philly Educators for Palestine announced that they would no longer work with Gann.

The groups said her claims had affected people who had trusted her and expressed concern about the impact on Palestinian and Black communities, students and fellow organisers. They also said her actions should not discredit other activists or organisations that had worked with her in good faith.

Gann, meanwhile, said that she still believed in the causes she had previously supported. She also asked people not to interpret her deception as evidence that other activists supporting Palestine were acting dishonestly.

Gann acknowledges deception

In her Instagram video, Gann said she had hidden the truth about her background from people in her personal and professional life. She described the deception as something she needed to take responsibility for and acknowledged that its consequences extended beyond herself.

The Philadelphia School District has said it is aware of the social-media posts concerning Gann and her involvement with an outside advocacy organisation. The district has also said support is being made available to staff and students at The Workshop School as needed.

The controversy has continued to generate discussion around identity, representation and trust within racial-justice and pro-Palestinian organising spaces. For now, Gann's own admission and the statements from the organisations that worked with her remain central to the ongoing fallout.