MOVE (political group)
MOVE is a political group founded in 1972 by John Africa (born Vincent Leaphart), primarily known for its radical beliefs centered around communal living, agrarian economy, and environmental activism. The organization, whose members predominantly adopted the surname Africa, became notorious for their confrontational tactics, including public demonstrations that challenged social norms and municipal regulations. Tensions between MOVE and local authorities escalated notably in the late 1970s and early 1980s, culminating in violent confrontations with the police, such as the tragic events of August 8, 1978, where a police officer was killed, leading to multiple MOVE members being convicted of murder.
In 1984, MOVE relocated to a fortified home in West Philadelphia, which heightened fears among local residents, prompting increased police intervention. The conflict reached a critical point on May 13, 1985, when a police siege ended with an aerial bombing of the MOVE compound, resulting in significant casualties, including the deaths of six adults and five children, and widespread destruction in the surrounding neighborhood. The incident garnered national attention and criticism, leading to Philadelphia being characterized as "the city that bombed itself." Despite the organization's losses, MOVE has remained a symbol of resistance and has continued to influence discussions on race relations, police violence, and civil rights, resonating through various cultural expressions, including music and media. The group's legacy is marked by a stark divide in public perception, reflecting broader societal tensions in the United States.
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MOVE (political group)
Identification African American political organization
Several violent episodes between MOVE and Philadelphia’s police force between 1978 and 1985 caused deaths on both sides, escalated racial tension, and created adverse national publicity for the city.
MOVE, most of whose members were surnamed Africa, was confrontational from the beginning. Founded in 1972 by John Africa (born Vincent Leaphart), the organization was based on religious values of communal living, agrarian economy, and radical environmentalism. Its members stockpiled weapons, performed bodily functions in public, taunted passersby, and created public health and safety hazards. Mayor Frank Rizzo ordered a blockade of their home at 309 North 33rd Street in the Powelton Village section of West Philadelphia on March 16, 1978. Five months later, on August 8, 1978, a battle left police officer John Ramp dead and the home bulldozed. Nine MOVE members were convicted of murder and imprisoned.
The remaining members found a new home at 6221 Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia. On August 8, 1984, MOVE marked the sixth anniversary of its first major battle with police by beginning construction to turn this home into a fortress. Neighbors, especially whites, became fearful. They asked the city for help. On May 13, 1985, Mayor Wilson Goode, himself an African American, ordered five hundred police officers—including special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams armed with tear gas, machine guns, and heavy military gear—to surround the fortress and force MOVE to vacate the premises. MOVE refused to surrender. During the day-long siege, sporadic gunfire erupted from both sides.
In the late afternoon, Police Commissioner Gregore J. Sambor ordered an aerial attack. About 5:30 p.m., a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter dropped a powerful explosive on the roof. Only one adult, Ramona Africa, and one boy, Birdie Africa, survived. John Africa was among the six adults and five children killed in the attack. The fire from the bomb spread throughout the neighborhood, destroying or damaging about sixty homes. The attack, explosion, and aftermath were broadcast live on local television. Shortly after the national media received the story, Philadelphia was ridiculed as “the city that bombed itself.”
Impact
MOVE was a prominent theme in the urban folklore of Philadelphia even before the 1985 bombing. In 1983, local white rock band Beru Revue recorded a song about MOVE, “Be Careful Tonight.” After the bombing, several African American rappers and white punk bands nationwide mentioned MOVE in their lyrics. Even with most of its members dead or imprisoned, MOVE remained an active organization and a cause célèbre. Journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal (born Wesley Cook), convicted of murdering Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner on December 9, 1981, continued in prison to write on MOVE’s behalf. MOVE’s intense polarizing effect between its African American supporters and white detractors has few parallels in the history of American race relations.
Bibliography
Halus, Eugene J. “’At Frankford We Stand!’ The Mobilization of Euro-American Ethnic Consciousness in Philadelphia Neighborhoods and Changes in City Government, 1950-1995.” Ph.D. dissertation. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America, 2003.
Wagner-Pacifici, Robin. Discourse and Destruction: The City of Philadelphia Versus MOVE. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994.
Williams, Daniel R. Executing Justice: An Inside Account of the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2001.