Ivy Ridge victims protest at disgraced gym for first time since ‘predator’ Amy Ritchie was named in mass appeal for justice

IVY Ridge survivors have sent a clear message about the abuse they suffered during their first visit to the disgraced gym since the release of a bombshell documentary.

Student victims at the facility embraced each other in protest after former teacher Amy Ritchie was named as one of the ringleaders who allegedly groomed and sexually abused troubled teens for years.

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On Saturday afternoon, more than 50 survivors gathered in Ogdensburg, New York, which is about two hours north of Syracuse, photos obtained exclusively by The US Sun reveal.

Protesters could be seen hugging each other and brandishing signs with defiant messages such as: “Treatment should not leave a community of survivors.”

One victim came wearing an Ivy Ridge Academy sweatshirt with tape over the tag that said “Survivor” and another designed a tombstone-shaped poster.

A different survivor created a “Student Complaint Form” on her poster, which detailed sickening allegations of psychological abuse, PTSD, and abandonment.

After chatting and exchanging hugs, the team gathered to shout “F**k you Ivy Ridge” and raise middle fingers before heading off to a private event.

Earlier that day, up to 100 people organized in front of Ogdensburg City Hall, according to police at the scene.

Founded in 2001, Ivy Ridge – a for-profit behavioral facility marketed as a boarding school – is fraught with controversy and sickening accusations of abuse.

In several lawsuits filed against the institution, former students allege they suffered sexual and physical abuse, unauthorized medical procedures, violent punishments and more.

Although the school has been closed since 2009, renewed hope for justice emerged after the Netflix docu-series The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnappings aired moving interviews with former students.

Ivy Ridge operated until it was denied accreditation by the state education department, but those few years of the Program had a lifelong effect on dozens of students.

One point of contention for several former students who spoke exclusively to The US Sun is Ritchie, who ran the girls’ program from 2001 to 2008.

In the documentary series, students accused an unidentified employee of serial sexual abuse and called her a pedophile.

Five Ivy Ridge alumni named the alleged attacker as Ritchie in an exclusive investigation published by The US Sun.

Ritchie does not face charges nor has she been accused by authorities of committing any crimes.

However, at least three of The US Sun’s sources cited in this investigation say they recently reported Ritchie to the district attorney’s office for sexual abuse.

Attempts by The US Sun to approach Ritchie for comment went unanswered.

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