The MOVE Organization: Radical Ideals and Tragic Conflicts
An in-depth academic examination of MOVE, its unique philosophy, and its profound historical impact through confrontations with the City of Philadelphia.
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Overview
Foundational Principles
Established in 1972 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the MOVE organization, originally known as the Christian Movement for Life, was founded by John Africa (born Vincent Leaphart). This communal group espoused a philosophy centered on 'nature laws' and 'natural living,' manifesting in an anarcho-primitivist lifestyle within their West Philadelphia residence. Their ideological framework integrated revolutionary tenets, drawing parallels with the Black Panthers, alongside a pronounced advocacy for animal rights.
Defining Conflicts
The history of MOVE is notably marked by two significant and violent confrontations with the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD). The first, in 1978, culminated in a fatal standoff resulting in the death of police officer James J. Ramp and injuries to numerous officers and firefighters. Subsequently, nine MOVE members were convicted for the officer's death, receiving substantial prison sentences.
The 1985 Catastrophe
A second, even more devastating conflict occurred in 1985 when a police helicopter deployed two bombs onto the roof of the MOVE compound. This unprecedented action led to the deaths of six adult MOVE members and five children, ranging in age from 7 to 13. The ensuing conflagration tragically destroyed 65 residential properties in the surrounding neighborhood, leaving a lasting scar on the community and the city's history.
Origins
The Vision of John Africa
The organization's name, "MOVE," is not an acronym but rather a declarative statement reflecting their core philosophy: "Everything that's alive moves. If it didn't, it would be stagnant, dead." John Africa, despite being functionally illiterate, articulated his philosophical tenets in "The Guidelines," which he dictated to social worker Donald Glassey from the University of Pennsylvania. These guidelines formed the bedrock of their communal existence.
Identity and Ideology
Predominantly composed of African-American followers, MOVE members adopted the surname "Africa" to honor their ancestral continent. Their political stance was a distinctive synthesis of "black power" and "flower power," characterized by radical green politics and a call for a return to a hunter-gatherer societal model. They expressed strong opposition to conventional science, medicine, and technology, advocating for a justice system that equally values all living creatures.
Activism and Scrutiny
Operating from a commune in Powelton Village, West Philadelphia, MOVE engaged in various forms of activism, including demonstrations against institutions such as zoos and circuses, as well as protests against industrial pollution and police brutality. Their uncompromising stance led to intense scrutiny from law enforcement, particularly under the administration of Mayor Frank Rizzo, a former police commissioner known for his stringent approach to activist groups. This escalating tension culminated in the jailing of three MOVE members in 1977 for inciting a riot, further exacerbating the strained relationship with city authorities.
1978 Conflict
Eviction and Standoff
In 1977, the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) secured a court order for MOVE to vacate their Powelton Village property, following numerous complaints from neighbors. MOVE members initially agreed to comply, offering to surrender their weapons in exchange for the release of their incarcerated comrades. However, this agreement ultimately failed to prevent further escalation.
The Fatal Shootout
On August 8, 1978, a year after the initial court order, a protracted standoff ensued when PPD officers attempted to enter the MOVE residence. A violent shootout erupted, resulting in the death of PPD Officer James J. Ramp of the Stakeout Unit, who sustained a gunshot wound to the neck. Additionally, sixteen police officers and firefighters were injured. While prosecutors attributed Officer Ramp's death to MOVE members, the organization maintained that he was a victim of friendly fire from fellow officers, asserting that their own firearms were inoperable at the time.
Aftermath of the Siege
The intense confrontation lasted approximately one hour before MOVE members began to surrender. This event marked a critical turning point, leading to severe legal repercussions for the organization's members and setting a precedent for future interactions between MOVE and city authorities. The controversy surrounding Officer Ramp's death, particularly the conflicting accounts of its cause, continues to be a subject of historical debate.
The MOVE 9
Conviction and Sentencing
Following the 1978 shootout, nine members of MOVE—Chuck, Delbert, Eddie, Janet, Janine, Merle, Michael, Phil, and Debbie Sims Africa—were charged with third-degree murder for Officer Ramp's death. They became collectively known as the "MOVE 9." Each member received a sentence ranging from 30 to 100 years in prison, a term that would lead to decades of incarceration.
Deaths in Custody
Tragically, two members of the MOVE 9 died while incarcerated. Merle Africa passed away in prison in 1998 at the age of 47, followed by Phil Africa, who died in 2015 at 59. These deaths underscored the profound human cost of the conflict and fueled ongoing advocacy for the release of the remaining imprisoned members.
Releases and Renewed Attention
Beginning in 2018, the surviving members of the MOVE 9 gradually gained parole. Debbie Sims Africa was the first to be released in June 2018, reuniting with her son, Michael Davis Africa, Jr., whom she had given birth to shortly after her imprisonment. Subsequent releases included Michael Davis Africa (October 2018), Janine and Janet Africa (May 2019), Eddie Goodman Africa (June 2019), Delbert Orr Africa (January 2020), and Chuck Sims Africa (February 2020). The releases brought renewed public attention to the plight of Black liberation activists incarcerated since the 1960s and 1970s. Both Delbert and Chuck Africa later succumbed to cancer in 2020 and 2021, respectively, after their release.
1985 Bombing
Relocation and Community Tensions
In 1981, MOVE relocated its communal residence to a row house at 6221 Osage Avenue in the Cobbs Creek area of West Philadelphia. This new location, however, also became a source of significant friction with neighbors, who lodged numerous complaints regarding accumulated trash, confrontational interactions, and the broadcasting of often obscene political messages via bullhorn. It is important to note that the bullhorn was reportedly inoperable for three weeks prior to the subsequent police action.
Escalation and Classification
By 1985, police had obtained arrest warrants for four MOVE occupants on charges including parole violations, contempt of court, illegal possession of firearms, and making terrorist threats. Mayor Wilson Goode and Police Commissioner Gregore J. Sambor officially classified MOVE as a terrorist organization. In preparation for the impending operation, residents of the surrounding area were evacuated, with assurances that they would be able to return to their homes within 24 hours.
The Siege and Bombing
On May 13, 1985, a force of nearly five hundred police officers, accompanied by city manager Leo Brooks, converged on the MOVE compound. After attempts to force members out by cutting off utilities and a public address by Commissioner Sambor, an armed standoff and a 90-minute gunfight ensued, during which police expended over ten thousand rounds of ammunition. Commissioner Sambor then authorized the bombing of the compound. From a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, Philadelphia Police Department Lt. Frank Powell dropped two one-pound bombs, referred to by police as "entry devices" and made of FBI-supplied Tovex (a dynamite substitute), onto a cubicle on the roof of the house.
Devastation and Aftermath
The bombing ignited a fire that tragically claimed the lives of eleven individuals within the house: John Africa, five other adults, and five children aged 7 to 13. Despite earlier drenching of the building by firefighters, officials withheld fire suppression efforts after the blaze erupted, citing fears of being shot by MOVE members. The fire subsequently spread, destroying approximately 65 nearby homes on Osage Avenue and Pine Street. Ramona Africa, one of only two adult survivors from the house, alleged that police actively fired upon those attempting to escape the inferno.
Aftermath
Official Investigations
In the wake of the bombing, Mayor Goode established the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission (PSIC), also known as the MOVE Commission, chaired by attorney William H. Brown, III. The PSIC's report, issued on March 6, 1986, unequivocally condemned the city's actions, stating that "Dropping a bomb on an occupied row house was unconscionable." Following the report's release, Mayor Goode issued a formal public apology for the events.
Legal Repercussions
Despite the PSIC's findings, no city government officials faced criminal charges for the attack. However, Ramona Africa, the sole surviving adult MOVE member from the house, was convicted of riot and conspiracy, serving seven years in prison. In 1996, a federal jury ordered the City of Philadelphia to pay $1.5 million in a civil suit judgment to Ramona Africa and the relatives of two bombing victims, finding that the city had used excessive force and violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure. The city also faced a $12.83 million verdict in 2005 for damages to residents displaced by the widespread destruction.
Public Discourse and Apology
The 1985 bombing earned Philadelphia the grim sobriquet "The City that Bombed Itself," reflecting the profound public shock and condemnation. Decades later, on November 12, 2020, the Philadelphia City Council passed a resolution formally apologizing "for the decisions and events preceding and leading to the devastation that occurred on May 13, 1985," and established an annual day of observation to remember the tragedy.
Internal Allegations
In 2021, former MOVE members came forward with allegations of internal abuse within the organization. These accounts, detailed in various media, described instances of physical and mental abuse, as well as a doctrine of homophobia and colorism. Critics suggested a manipulation of public perception and media narratives under the guise of social justice, adding another layer of complexity to the organization's history.
Other Incidents
The 2002 John Gilbride Shooting
Following John Africa's death, his widow, Alberta, married John Gilbride, Jr., with whom she had a child, Zackary Africa. After their divorce in 1999, Gilbride, who no longer supported MOVE, relocated to New Jersey. In 2002, amidst a bitter custody dispute, Gilbride testified in court that MOVE had issued death threats against him. Shortly before his first unsupervised visitation with Zackary, on September 27, 2002, Gilbride was fatally shot in his car. The case remains unsolved. A MOVE spokeswoman initially suggested government involvement to frame the organization, while Alberta Africa denied the murder, claiming Gilbride was "hiding." Conversely, an ex-MOVE member, Tony Allen, alleged that MOVE was responsible for Gilbride's death. Reports in 2012 indicated Gilbride had a notebook with incriminating evidence, which the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office did not pursue.
Controversy Over Human Remains
In April 2021, both the Penn Museum and the University of Pennsylvania issued apologies to the Africa family for the unauthorized use of human remains recovered from the 1985 MOVE house bombing. The Philadelphia City Medical Examiner's Office had provided these burned remains to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in 1985 for identification, specifically of 14-year-old Tree Africa and 12-year-old Delisha Africa. For decades, these remains were stored in a cardboard box and utilized in research and training, including as a case study in an online forensic course by professors Alan Mann and Janet Monge. Mann reportedly took the remains with him upon transferring to Princeton University in 2001. Further controversy arose in May 2021 when Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley resigned after revelations that he had ordered the cremation of another set of victims' remains without family notification or consent, though these remains were later recovered.
Mumia Abu-Jamal and Michael Moses Ward
Mumia Abu-Jamal, a prominent member of MOVE, was convicted of the 1981 murder of police officer Daniel Faulkner. His death sentence was overturned in 2011, leading to a resentencing of life imprisonment without parole. MOVE continues to advocate for his release. Separately, Michael Moses Ward, known within MOVE as Birdie Africa, was the only child to survive the 1985 bombing, sustaining severe burns. His mother perished in the fire. Ward's father, Andino Ward, successfully sued the City of Philadelphia, reaching a settlement. Michael Moses Ward subsequently lived with his father, disengaging from MOVE, and tragically died in 2013 from accidental drowning.
Legacy
Media and Commemoration
The events surrounding the MOVE organization, particularly the 1985 bombing, have left an indelible mark on public consciousness and historical record. On the 25th anniversary of the bombing, The Philadelphia Inquirer published an extensive multimedia website, featuring retrospective articles, archived reports, videos, interviews, and a detailed timeline, underscoring the enduring significance of the incident. The Philadelphia City Council's 2020 apology and establishment of an annual day of observation further solidify the event's place in the city's collective memory.
Cultural Interpretations
The complex narrative of MOVE has inspired various cultural and artistic works. John Edgar Wideman's 1990 novel, Philadelphia Fire, offers a fictionalized account based on the 1985 bombing, exploring themes of race, justice, and memory. The punk rock band Mischief Brew's 2006 song, Save A City..., also directly addresses the bombing, reflecting its impact on popular culture and social commentary.
Documentary Insights
Several documentaries have sought to chronicle and analyze the MOVE organization and its conflicts:
- The Bombing of Osage Avenue (1986) by Toni Cade Bambara and Louis Massiah, which contextualizes the bombing within the history of the Cobbs Creek community and its impact on non-MOVE residents.
- Let the Fire Burn (2013) by Jason Osder, a film composed primarily of archival footage, offering a raw, immersive perspective on the events.
- Recorder: The Marion Stokes Project (2019) by Matt Wolf, which includes footage of the group from the ABC news program Nightline.
- 40 Years a Prisoner (2020) by Tommy Oliver, which focuses on the 1978 police raid and Mike Africa Jr.'s decades-long struggle to free his parents.
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References
References
- BAVC1006272_News51385: Internet Archive
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