We the undersigned, in support of Philadelphia Parents for Palestine, demand the immediate reinstatement of Keziah Ridgeway to her teaching duties at Philadelphia’s Northeast High School.

Ms. Ridgeway is a veteran social studies and history teacher who has received the prestigious Lindback Award for Distinguished Teachers. She was removed from the classroom on September 6, 2024 by the School District of Philadelphia following a nearly yearlong campaign launched against her by an outside group. This group, known as the School District of Philadelphia Jewish Family Association, has no ties to Northeast High School. 

Every day that Keziah Ridgeway is not teaching her students, they are falling behind in their AP, IB and other classwork. Students have dropped out of her classes as the substitutes cannot prepare these students for the AP tests, for example, and every day more damage is done. 

Our children–the students–are the constituents of the School District, NOT outside groups that conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism and target teachers who encourage students to learn about current events. To suppress such rights is a violation of the students’ freedom of speech, and to remove an excellent teacher from the classroom because of pressure from outside groups is completely unacceptable and sets a dangerous precedent.