Legal Defense for Philly Educators

We are currently aware of educators and students from two schools who have faced censorship when speaking about Palestine. At Northeast High School, a student podcast episode that mentioned Palestinian Resistance through art was removed by the School District from a school assembly after complaints from an organization outside of the school community. At Baldi Middle School, teachers are facing disciplinary conferences after hanging student posters that showed solidarity with Palestine and called for a ceasefire.

One of the primary educators facing attacks on her work is Keziah Ridgeway, a longtime collaborator and accountability partner of BARWE. She is an educator we hold in the highest regard, who has been doing critical, student-centered teaching in our District for years.

Given the mounting attacks on educators’ intellectual freedom, and specifically teaching about Palestine, across the country, it is vital that these educators have access to legal counsel as they face possible discipline from the School District and attacks from organizations. Your contribution to this legal fund can help ensure that educators have the intellectual freedom to teach about the ongoing genocide with their students.

We are also asking supporters to take these additional steps:

Sign on to the Philly Educators for Palestine Demands for the School District of Philadelphia.

Write a letter to Superintendent Watlington and the Board of Education by adapting/personalizing this template.

Building AntiRacist White Educators (BARWE) is collecting funds on behalf of these educators. At BARWE, two principles are guiding our response: 1) We must protect the freedom of speech and intellectual freedom of teachers and students and 2) Palestinians deserve safety and liberation.

All funds not used for legal defense will be donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.