Antisemitism in Philadelphia Schools? - Apparently A-OK with some state representatives in Philadelphia
Read on for shocking antisemitism from Philly-based teachers, including support for the Iranian attack on Israeli civilians. Why would Rep.Rabb support these teachers?
The problem of antisemitism in K-12 schools in Philadelphia runs deep. And it appears that State Representative Chris Rabb, who represents the 200th district in Philadelphia county, is happy to go to bat for Keziah Ridgeway, the teacher accused of antisemitism.
According to Canary Mission:
“On October 9, 2023, two days after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, Ridgeway shared [slide 31] on her Instagram Story highlights a statement from Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) titled, “THE ROOT OF VIOLENCE IS OPPRESSION” that justified Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel.
The JVP statement referred [slide 3] to Hamas terrorists as “Palestinian fighters” and claimed [slide 4] “Israeli apartheid and occupation - and the United States complicity in that oppression - are the source of all this violence.”
In September 2024, the National Post reported that Ridgeway threatened the parents of Jewish students, according to a legal complaint lodged by the Deborah Project, a public interest law firm, on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
In an August 31, 2024 post, Ridgeway posted [p. 7] a graphic that read, “Ain’t no fun when the 🐇 got the 🤫,” referring to a gun.
In a September 3, 2024 post, Ridgeway wrote [p. 8], “Black owned 🔫shops in or near Philly? Asking for a friend.”
The complaint also took issue with Ridgeway naming previously anonymous SDP Jewish Family Association leaders on social media. In one post, Ridgeway wrote (p.6): “Part 1. I asked y’all nicely to leave me alone. I asked y’all nicely to keep my name out y’all mouth. Now I’m taking my gloves off…”
At the beginning of September 2024, Ridgeway was reportedly “reassigned offsite” while on investigation into her conduct is taking place.”
According to Canary Mission, Ridgeway is a co-creator of the group “Philadelphia Educators for Palestine.”
That all sounds very nice until you remember that these teachers recycle Hamas talking points, have a very one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and threaten Jewish parents. However, they will be glad to know that they have at least one state representative in their corner.
Rabb reposted a message of support for Ridgeway on his instagram account.
This is hardly surprising as it appears Rabb follows the @phillyparentsforpalestine account on instagram.
According to Canary Mission, the Philly Parents for Palestine Group has this to say:
“US education is a pillar of the ongoing Palestinian Nakba just like US spending. We support the alternative: Teaching Palestine #droptheadlfromschools.”
Does State Rep. Rabb share this view? That education is a pillar of the “ongoing Palestinian Nakba.” Does he support the #droptheadlfromschools campaign that K-12 tracker has reported? His constituents deserve to know. In the meantime, his instagram provides some more clues:
Here speaks out for Ridgeway with the Philadelphia Inquirer and further comment on his instagram post
Of course, with these comments Rabb closes over what constituted ‘discussion’ of the conflict in the classroom and refers to Zionism as a mere ‘political ideology.’
This is the demonstration that Rep Rabb is defending:
Rep.Rabb gave the following speech at a vigil outside of city hall hosted by CAIR and IFNotNow:
In the speech, Rep Rabb says he is not at the vigil ‘as a democrat’, becomes emotional when a Keffiyah is draped around his shoulders, and says:
“when we come together we are more powerful than any empire. They can’t destroy us. They will continue to try but they will fail because we are in solidarity.”
“I will continue to do all that I can in my position…power to the people…free Palestine.”
Here he is joining student protestors at Dickinson College:
Here he is again supporting protestors at the state capitol - the protest had been unauthorised and resulted in arrests.
Rep. Rabb seems to have an outsized interest in the Israel-Palestine conflict and clearly sides with the extremist views of SJP, PhillyParentsforPalestine and their ilk.
Parents in Rabb’s district who are concerned about antisemitism in K-12 schools and the virulent anti-Israel material being taught to children will not find a friend in Rep.Rabb.
Philly Parents for Palestine have rallied to Ridgeway’s support - even beginning a petition to have her reinstated at Northeast High School. As of this writing, Ridgeway is still listed in the school’s faculty directory.
The Philly Parents for Palestine instagram posts “community testimony” in support of Ridgeway - it was one such testimony that Rabb reposted. However, a closer look at this testimony is revealing…
Hannah Gann is a 10th grade History teacher who, like Ridgeway, is part of the Philadelphia Educators for Palestine group (in fact, if you scroll up again - you’ll see the demands from the group come from her instagram account).
Gann is also a member of the Racial Justice Organizing Committee.
From Canary Mission:
“SDP history teacher Hannah Gann expressed support for Hamas terrorists in multiple 2024 Instagram posts.
One of Gann’s 2024 Instagram posts featured a graphic with an inverted red triangle (which has become a symbol of support for Hamas) with text that read: “you can’t support / palestinian liberation / without supporting / palestinian resistance.”
(“Resistance” is used as a euphemism for violence and terrorism.)
The statement continued: “reject normalization / support the resistance.” The post featured an image of men with keffiyehs covering their faces.
Another one of Gann’s 2024 Instagram posts featured a pro-Hamas graphic titled: “DECOLONIZATION / IS A FORCE OF NATURE.” The graphic showed a hand emerging from underground while holding a weapon in a raised first, alluding to Hamas terror tunnels. The graphic also showed paragliders descending from the air, alluding to the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, 2023.”
Given this context, it is unsurprising that Gann would go to bat for Ridgeway. Another “community testimonial” comes from Shaw Macqueen, another teacher in the School District of Philadelphia:
Shaw Macqueen is in fact Norman Shaw Macqueen, who describes himself as a "core organizer” for Racial Justice Organizing Committee - the committee both Gann and Ridgeway are part of.
Macqueen posted this today, October 1st, in response to the terror attacks in Yaffa and the Iranian bombardment of Israeli civilians:
A bit worrying that a teacher is so easily misinformed and willing to spread that misinformation….
Ridgeway likes and comments on Macqueen’s post calling Zionism racism, settler colonialism, islamophobia, genocidal violence and, laughingly, antisemitic.
According to Canary Mission, Macqueen also posted the following to his instagram stories:
“MacQueen also expressed hatred of Israel in 2024 on his Instagram Stories, including a post that said, “These Zionists are no different from the swarms of white supremacist spectators cheering on the public lynchings of over 3,000 Black people.”
A second 2024 Instagram Story featured a slide with a video from the antisemitic AJ Plus (Al Jazeera) channel showing a woman accusing Israel of stealing Palestinian organs.
Accusations against Israel stealing or harvesting organs have been revived over the years, echoing old antisemitic blood libels against Jews.
A third 2024 Instagram Story featured a slide that said, “I cannot wait until the day that we see the white supremacist, colonizing, genocidal state of Israel fall. Our world will be one step closer to a beautiful place. #fromtherivertothesea🇵🇸.”MacQueen also promoted on social media a February 23, 2024 Philadelphia Citywide High School Walkout In Solidarity with Palestine,” an event billed as spreading “awareness of the ethnic cleansing and genocide in Palestine.”
