We Will Never Forget The 1985 MOVE Bombing

On May 13, 1985, a police helicopter dropped two bombs on a house in residential Philadelphia. This is the first and only instance of the American government bombing its own citizens. It is known today as the 1985 MOVE bombing. 

11 people died as a result, including five children. 65 homes were destroyed in the neighborhood. 

Despite this attack on American citizens by police being so egregious, many people still aren’t aware of it. That’s why it’s important we never forget the 1985 MOVE bombing so that nothing like it happens ever again.

Origins of MOVE

Originally titled the Christian Movement for Life, MOVE is actually not an acronym. MOVE is a communal organization that advocates for natural living and a return to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. 

Like many alternative groups borne out of the 1970s, MOVE pushed for revolutionary ideology and nature-loving communalism. You can think of them like Black Panther Hippies. 

The founder, John Africa, chose the name MOVE to express the actions of the community. 

“Everything’s that’s alive moves. If it didn’t, it would be stagnant, dead.”

When other members greet each other, they say:

“on the MOVE”

Janine Africa, in a letter penned from prison, wrote:

“We demonstrated again puppy mills, zoos, circuses, any form of enslavement of animals.

“We demonstrated against Three Mile Island and industrial pollution.

“We demonstrated against police brutality. And we did so uncompromisingly.

“Slavery never ended, it was just disguised.” 

MOVE was not any different than a hippie commune or a local militia. You can take one guess why this organization was targeted by police.

The PPD Were NOT Fans

Mayor Frank Rizzo, a former police commissioner known for his particular flavor of racism, targeted members of MOVE. 

In 1977, the Philadelphia Police Department obtained a court order for MOVE to vacate their Powelton Village property. Neighbors had reportedly been complaining. The members of MOVE apparently agreed to vacate. But, one year later, they had remained on the property. 

The PPD came to a standoff with MOVE and a shootout ensued. In that shootout, Officer James J. Ramp was killed by a shot in the back of the neck. 

Eyewitnesses claimed that the shot came from the opposite direction to the property, insinuating that Ramp was shot by police in the confusion. 

The standoff lasted an hour before members of MOVE began to surrender. Nine members were charged with the third-degree murder of Ramp. 

Chuck, Delbert, Eddie, Janet, Janine, Merle, Michael, Phil, and Debbie Sims Africa were all sentenced to a maximum of 100 years in prison. 

Debbie Sims Africa and her husband, Michael Davis Africa, were released in 2018. Janine, Janet, and Eddie Africa were released in 2019. Delbert Orr Africa and Chuck Sims Africa were released in 2020. Both died from cancer shortly after. 

Merle Africa died in prison at 47 in 1998 and Phil Africa died in prison at 59 in 2019. 

1985 MOVE Bombing

In 1981, MOVE relocated to a house at 6221 Osage Avenue in the Cobbs Creek area of West Philadelphia. Neighbors had apparently complained about trash buildup, noise, confrontations, and bullhorn announcements. 

The police obtained arrest warrants in 1985, charging four MOVE members with parole violations, contempt of court, illegal possession of firearms, and making terrorist threats. 

Mayor Wilson Goode and police commissioner George J Sambor labeled MOVE a terrorist organization. 

Neighbors were evacuated from the area the night before and told they would be able to return after 24 hours. 

On May 13, 1985, nearly 500 police officers arrived in force in an attempt to evict the “terrorists.” 

“Attention MOVE: This is America. You have to abide by the laws of the United States.” 

MOVE did not reply. So, the PPD decided to forcibly remove the seven adults and six children. They lobbed tear gas canisters at the property. MOVE fired at the PPD. A 90-minute gunfight ensued. Police fired more than ten thousand rounds of ammunition. 

And then Police Commissioner Sambor ordered the compound be bombed. 

PPD Lt. Frank Powell, from a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, dropped two one-pound bombs made of FBI-supplied Tovex, a dynamite substitute onto the roof of the MOVE property. 

The resulting fire killed eleven people – founder and leader John Africa, five other adults, and five children ages 7 to 13. The fire spread rapidly and eventually destroyed 65 houses in the area. 

The PPD and Philadelphia Fire Department let it burn. 

One adult, Ramona Africa, and one child survived. 

Aftermath

The only bombing to ever occur on American soil by the government against its own citizens was, of course, widely condemned. Mayor Goode, who had labeled MOVE a terrorist group leading up to the bombing, appointed an investigative commission to get the facts. Sambor resigned later that year. 

No criminal charges were brought against any city or government actors involved in the MOVE bombing. 

MOVE survivors filed a civil suit against the City of Philadelphia and the PPD. They were awarded $1.5 million in a 1996 settlement. 

Neighbors returned to a shoddy reconstruction. Much later than the 24 hours initially promised. 
While the incident in Waco is very similar to the MOVE bombing, the latter has largely faded in the footnotes of history. But will never be forgotten by the surviving residents.