City Journal Audio Fighting Covid School Closures
Dec 5, 2025
Natalya Murakhver, a documentary director and the force behind the Keep NYC Schools Open movement, joins the discussion to share her insights on the school closures during COVID-19. She candidly describes the human cost, particularly the impact on student-athletes and lost opportunities. The conversation delves into political pressures and the role of unions in prolonging closures. Natalya also reveals shocking footage from Zoom calls where NGOs viewed the pandemic as a chance to reshape society, marking a significant shift in her own political perspective.
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Parent Activist Origins
- Natalya Murakhver recounts joining a ragtag group of parents called Keep NYC Schools Open after schools remained closed past 15 days.
- She describes organizing a November 2020 rally and becoming an unlikely activist to push for reopening schools.
Coach's Warning About Lost Sports
- The film shows how removing school sports harmed students' mentorship, routines, and scholarship chances.
- Coach Ron Niclario passionately warned that banning sports would push kids onto the streets and destroy their motivation.
Pre-Pandemic Playbook Rejected Lockdowns
- Pre-pandemic CDC guidance had rejected broad lockdowns and school closures as ineffective for influenza-level pandemics.
- Murakhver and interviewed experts argue focused protection and keeping kids in school was the safer historical approach.