Pro-Palestinian Activist’s Race Hoax Causes Group Turmoil

A pro-Palestinian activist’s admission of a years-long race hoax has resulted in one activist organization dissolving, while another is contemplating its future.

Hannah Gann, who claimed to be Black, Palestinian, and Tunisian at various times, has now revealed that she is actually a Jewish white woman.

During her confession, Gann stated, “I hid the truth or outright lied about my background to everyone in my life.”

In light of the uproar surrounding her actions, a group of Philadelphia educators advocating for the Palestinian cause announced their decision to disband. They expressed their gratitude for the support and efforts of those involved, stating, “We are proud of what we accomplished together and of the community that was built through this work.”

The Racial Justice Organizing Committee, on the other hand, has opted for a two-month hiatus to “rest, process, and decompress,” with members expected to decide their next steps by year’s end.

Reactions among group members have ranged from feelings of shock to outright anger, characterizing Gann’s actions as a betrayal.

In a ten-minute video, Gann acknowledged that she had “allowed half-truths and obfuscations to grow into outright lies.”

One member, who chose to remain anonymous, shared her outrage after befriending Gann and witnessing the damage done to their collective cause. She remarked, “She has moments when she tries to act extra Black, like cosplaying Black,” noting Gann’s use of large earrings, African print clothing, and Black vernacular.

The woman recounted instances where Gann claimed to be mixed or even Lebanese.

Members of both organizations are now calling for Gann to face disciplinary actions from her employer— a project-based high school within the district.

One organizer expressed strong sentiments, saying, “I think Hannah should get fired. This has got to be so traumatizing for those kids. They had an adult they thought they could trust, and she was lying about something so fundamental.” She further condemned Gann’s actions as “disgusting” and vowed never to speak to her again.

While WPVI-TV reported that Gann is no longer working with students, the Philadelphia district refrained from commenting on personnel matters.