MOVE or the MOVE Organization is a Philadelphia-based black liberation group founded by John Africa. MOVE was described by CNN as “a loose-knit, mostly black group whose members all adopted the surname Africa, advocated a “back-to-nature” lifestyle and preached against technology.”[1]
The Philadelphia Police Department raided their home in 1978 and later in 1985. During the latter event, the Philadelphia Police shot teargas at the MOVE headquarters and then dropped a four-pound, military-grade C-4 plastic explosive bomb on the house. The bombing resulted in 11 deaths (including 5 children) and the destruction of 65 homes in the resulting fires.[2] An investigative commission formed by the Philadelphia Mayor issued its report on March 6, 1986 denouncing the actions of the city government, stating that “Dropping a bomb on an occupied row house was unconscionable.”[3] No one from the city government was charged criminally. In a 1996, civil suit in US federal court, a jury ordered the City of Philadelphia to pay $1.5 million to a survivor and relatives of two people killed in the incident. The jury found that the city used excessive force and violated the members’ constitutional protection against unreasonable search and seizure.[4]
Nine members were convicted and sent to prison for life following a 1978 siege at their house in which one cop was killed by another cop. One of those nine, Merle Africa, died in prison after being denied medical treatment.
MOVE 9
- Chuck Sims Africa
- Debbie Sims Africa
- Delbert Orr Africa
- Edward Goodman Africa
- Janet Holloway Africa
- Janine Phillips Africa
- Michael Davis Africa
- William Phillips Africa
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