OGDENSBURG — A number of Ivy Ridge survivors plan to reunite in the Ogdensburg area for a peaceful protest at city hall April 27.

That’s according to a press release issued by the survivors group.

The event is being planned in response to the success of Netflix’s new series, The Program, which exposed child abuse allegations at the Academy at Ivy Ridge which operated in the township of Oswegatchie from 2001 until 2009.  The documentary prompted an investigation involving the St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and State Police.

Few details have been released since the investigation began, but fencing has been placed around the property in recent weeks after people were reportedly trespassing there following the release of the documentary.

Although no official word has been given Assemblymen Scott Gray has called for an investigation from the State Attorney General. Although rumors have also also surfaced of a federal investigation, North Country This Week has not been able to confirm the claims.

Since the documentary aired former employees of the academy have faced public scrutiny. In recent weeks it was announced that a number of former Ivy Ridge employees working at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center have been placed on administrative leave.

St. Lawrence County Republican Elections Commissioner Tom Nichols has also come under fire for his former employment as a marketing and public relations official at the now defunct academy. In the documentary Nichols was confronted by a group of survivors.

“All concerned citizens that wish to speak out against institutional child abuse are encouraged to join in a peaceful demonstration that will take place in front of Ogdensburg City Hall on April 27, 2024 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST,” a press release from the survivors group said.

“All are encouraged to join and create protest signs against child abuse of all kinds. For more information please RSVP to the Facebook event listed below. https://shorturl.at/mrP24 .”