1985 MOVE bombing

1985 aerial bombing by police in Philadelphia August 2023August 2022 May 13, 1985 For other events that happened on this date, see Monday May 13 and May 1985 1985 MOVE bombing Black Power movement and political violence in the United States during the Cold War Smoke rises above homes after MOVE bombing.jpg See caption Smoke rises above homes in Philadelphia after the bombing 6221 Osage Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. 39 57 20.52 N 75 14 48.84 W region:US-PA_type:event inline, title 1985 5 13 Conflict between MOVE members and Philadelphia Police Department officers regarding arrest warrants Aerial bombing with Tovex and C-4 *MOVE *Philadelphia Police Department *John Africa *Wilson Goode Gregore J. Sambor Leo Brooks 7 adults6 children ~500 police officers 6 adults and 5 children killedSurviving adult arrested, charged and convicted of riot and conspiracy1 home destroyed 1 police officer lightly injured 61 neighboring homes destroyed250 bystanders made homeless City of Philadelphia found to have violated Fourth Amendment rights and used excessive force in 1996; found liable for damages to bystanders' homes in 2005. The 1985 MOVE bombing, locally known by its date, May 13, 1985,Demby Gene I'm From Philly. 30 Years Later, I'm Still Trying To Make Sense Of The MOVE Bombing https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/13/406243272/im-from-philly-30-years-later-im-still-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-move-bombing NPR National Public Radio, Inc. 13 May 2023 Demby 2015 13 May 2015 was the aerial bombing of a house, and the destruction of 61 more houses by the subsequent fire, in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, by the Philadelphia Police Department during an armed battle with MOVE, a terrorist-designated black liberation organization. MOVE members shot at Philadelphia police who had come to evict them from the house they were using as their headquarters. Philadelphia police aviators then dropped two explosive devices from a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter onto the roof of the house, which was occupied at the time. For 90 minutes, the Philadelphia Police Department allowed the resulting fire to burn out of control, destroying 61 previously evacuated neighboring houses over two city blocks and leaving 250 people homeless.Hall Gray May 13, 2020 11 Philadelphia City Council members issue apology on 35th anniversary of MOVE bombing https://6abc.com/6179659/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122826/https://6abc.com/6179659/ May 7, 2021 May 7, 2021 6abc Philadelphia en Six adults and five children were killed in the attack;Cleaver Kathleen Neal 1993 Philadelphia fire http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10402659308425758 Peace Review en 5 4 467–474 10.1080/10402659308425758 1040-2659 subscription two occupants of the house, one adult and one child, survived. A lawsuit in federal court found that the city used excessive force and violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Background In 1981, MOVE relocated to a row house at 6221 Osage Avenue in the Cobbs Creek area of West Philadelphia. Neighbors complained to the city for years about trash around their building, confrontations with neighbors, and bullhorn announcements of political messages by MOVE members.http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,141842,00.html It Looks Just Like a War Zone Frank Trippett May 27, 1985 TIME magazine The Move property on Osage Avenue had become notorious for its abundant litter of garbage and human waste and for its scurrying rats and dozens of dogs. Bullhorns blared forth obscene tirades and harangues at all times of day and night. MOVE members customarily kept their children out of both clothes and school. They physically assaulted some neighbors and threatened others. February 15, 2009 March 15, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170315203458/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,141842,00.html liveAbu-Jamal Mumia Bin Wahad Dhoruba Shakur Assata Still Black, Still Strong 1993 Semiotext(e) South Pasadena, CA 9780936756745 128 The police obtained arrest warrants in 1985 charging four MOVE occupants with crimes including parole violations, contempt of court, illegal possession of firearms, and making terroristic threats.Trippett Frank http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,141842,00.html It Looks Just Like a War Zone TIME May 27, 1985 May 14, 2013 March 15, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170315203458/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,141842,00.html live Mayor Wilson Goode and police commissioner Gregore J. Sambor classified MOVE as a terrorist organization.Shapiro Michael J The Time of the City: Politics, Philosophy and Genre June 17, 2010 Routledge 9781136977879 108 Police evacuated residents of the area from the neighborhood prior to their action. Residents were told that they would be able to return after 24 hours.https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/13/406243272/im-from-philly-30-years-later-im-still-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-move-bombing I'm from Philly 30 years later I'm still trying to make sense of the MOVE bombing Demby Gene May 13, 2015 NPR March 18, 2018 May 24, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210524045932/https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/13/406243272/im-from-philly-30-years-later-im-still-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-move-bombing live Incident On Monday, May 13, 1985, nearly 500 police officers, along with city manager Leo Brooks, arrived in force and attempted to clear the building and execute the arrest warrants. Water and electricity were shut off to try to force MOVE members out of the house. At 5:35 a.m., Sambor read a long speech addressed to MOVE members that started with, "Attention MOVE: This is America. You have to abide by the laws of the United States." They were given 15 minutes to come out. When the MOVE members did not respond, the police decided to forcibly remove everyone who was in the house. Inside the building were seven adults and six children.Fagone Jason February 27, 2014 Birdie Africa: The Lost Boy https://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/02/27/birdie-africa-lost-boy/ City Live en-US May 23, 2021 May 16, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210516034005/https://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/02/27/birdie-africa-lost-boy/ live An armed battle ensued.Account of 1985 incident from USA Today https://web.archive.org/web/20120702101434/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-05-11-philadelphia-bombing_x.htm July 2, 2012. Police threw tear gas canisters at the building. The MOVE members fired at them, and a gunfight with semi-automatic and automatic firearms went on for 90 minutes.Stevens William K. May 14, 1985 Police Drop Bomb on Radicals' Home in Philadelphia The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/14/us/police-drop-bomb-on-radicals-home-in-philadelphia.html live August 31, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109084013/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/14/us/police-drop-bomb-on-radicals-home-in-philadelphia.html November 9, 2020 One officer's flak jacket was hit in the back, but he was not seriously hurt. Police used more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition. At 2 p.m., Sambor ordered that the compound be bombed. From a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, Philadelphia Police Department Lt. Frank Powell proceeded to drop two 1.5-pound (0.75 kg) bombs (which the police referred to as "entry devices") made of Tovex, a dynamite substitute, combined with two pounds of FBI-supplied C-4,Evans Richard Kent https://books.google.com/books?id=_8vnDwAAQBAJ&dq=MOVE+1985+%22bombs%22+Tovex&pg=PA217 MOVE: An American Religion June 1, 2020 Oxford University Press 978-0-19-005878-4 217 en targeting a fortified, bunker-like cubicle on the roof of the house. The bombs exploded after 45 seconds, igniting the fuel of a gasoline-powered generator and setting the house on fire, which was left to burn. Officials later stated that this was to let the fire burn through the roof and destroy the "bunker", so police could then drop tear gas into the house and flush out the occupants. Thirty minutes later, firefighters moved in to control the fire, but there was gunfire and the firefighters and police were ordered back as the fire spread to neighboring houses down the street. The only two MOVE survivors, Birdie Africa, who was 13 at the time, and Ramona Africa, both escaped the house. Police initially said that two men had also run out of the house at the same time and fired at them and that police had returned fire. Ramona Africa said that police fired at those trying to escape. Police said that MOVE members moved in and out of the house shooting at the police.Sullivan Laura https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4651126 Philadelphia MOVE Bombing Still Haunts Survivors NPR May 16, 2005 May 14, 2013 June 20, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130620100210/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4651126 live The fire department declared the fire under control at 11:47 p.m. thumb|Police and medical authorities remove a body from MOVE headquarters on May 14 The fire killed 11 of the people in the house, six adults and five children: John Africa, Rhonda Africa, Theresa Africa, Frank Africa, Conrad Africa, Tree Africa, Delisha Africa, Netta Africa, Little Phil Africa, Tomaso Africa, and Raymond Africa. Sixty-one neighboring houses were destroyed by the fire, leaving 250 people homeless.http://onamove.com/on-the-anniversary-of-move-bombing-fresh-pain-and-calls-for-accountability-on-osage-avenue/ On the anniversary of MOVE bombing, fresh pain and calls for accountability on Osage Avenue May 14, 2021 May 14, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210514193631/http://onamove.com/on-the-anniversary-of-move-bombing-fresh-pain-and-calls-for-accountability-on-osage-avenue/ live Aftermath Mayor Goode appointed an investigative commission called the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission (PSIC, which became known as the MOVE Commission), chaired by William H. Brown III. Commissioner Sambor resigned in November 1985; in a speech the following year, he said that he was made a "surrogate" by Goode.https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1986-02-27-2510505-story.html I WAS EXPENDABLE, SAMBOR LEARNED AFTER MOVE FIASCO Scott J. Higham mcall.com February 27, 1986 August 8, 2020 March 27, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190327123118/https://www.mcall.com/news/mc-xpm-1986-02-27-2510505-story.html live In 1986, Ellen Powell Tiberino and her husband Joseph created a seven-foot relief sculpture called The MOVE Confrontation as their interpretation of the bombing. It depicted people engulfed in flames, Mayor Goode, a death mask and horrified spectators. It created controversy in the city and produced headlines across the country.G. Shaffer Compass American Guides Pennsylvania C. Tiger D. L. Root 2008 The MOVE Commission issued its report on March 6, 1986. The report denounced the actions of the city government, stating that dropping a bomb on an occupied row house was unconscionable.http://library.temple.edu/collections/urbana/psic-01.jsp Philadelphia Special Investigation (MOVE) Commission Manuscript Collection April 12, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20090111183326/http://library.temple.edu/collections/urbana/psic-01.jsp January 11, 2009 dead Following the release of the report, Goode made a formal public apology.Stevens William K. Philadelphia Mayor Apologizes for Confrontation With Radicals https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/10/us/philadelphia-mayor-apologizes-for-confrontation-with-radicals.html August 26, 2022 The New York Times March 10, 1986 live https://web.archive.org/web/20150524190144/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/10/us/philadelphia-mayor-apologizes-for-confrontation-with-radicals.html May 24, 2015 No one from the city government was criminally charged in the attack. The only surviving adult MOVE member, Ramona Africa, refused to testify in court and was charged and convicted on charges of riot and conspiracy; she served seven years in prison.Odom Maida Ramona Africa Given Jail Term For Siege Role http://articles.philly.com/1986-04-15/news/26077019_1_ramona-africa-birdie-africa-riot-charge philly.com May 10, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160603031312/http://articles.philly.com/1986-04-15/news/26077019_1_ramona-africa-birdie-africa-riot-charge June 3, 2016 dead A lawsuit appealing a judgment against the police and public officials was filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on November 3, 1994, Africa v. City of Philadelphia (In re City of Philadelphia Litig.), 49 F.3d 945 (1995), and was decided on March 6, 1995. The court decided that the plaintiffs did not have a Fourth Amendment claim against the city because there was no seizure when the defendants dropped explosives on the plaintiffs' buildings, and that city officials and police officers had qualified immunity under 42 U.S.C.S. § 1983, but that the city was not immune from liability despite its officials being exempt as individuals.FindLaw's United States Third Circuit case and opinions. Findlaw June 3, 2020 https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-3rd-circuit/1118895.html December 25, 2021 In 1996, a federal jury ordered the city to pay a $1.5 million civil suit judgment to survivor Ramona Africa and relatives of two people killed in the bombing. The jury had found that the city used excessive force and violated the members' constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Ramona was awarded $500,000 for the pain, suffering and physical harm suffered in the fire.https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DEFDE1239F936A15755C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Philadelphia Held Liable For Firebomb Fatal to 11 The New York Times June 25, 1996 Don Terry May 13, 2010 May 24, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210524050107/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/25/us/philadelphia-held-liable-for-firebomb-fatal-to-11.html live In 2005, federal judge Clarence Charles Newcomer presided over a civil trial brought by residents seeking damages for having been displaced by the widespread destruction following the 1985 police bombing of MOVE. A jury decided that the City of Philadelphia should pay them $12.83 million.Douglas Martin (August 28, 2005). "CLARENCE NEWCOMER, 82, LONGTIME FEDERAL JUDGE," https://web.archive.org/web/20200603172345/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2005-08-28-0508270080-story.html June 3, 2020 South Florida Sun Sentinel. In 2013, the documentary film Let the Fire Burn introduced the history of the MOVE bombing to a wider audience.DeFore John Let the Fire Burn: Tribeca Review 26 April 2013 https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/let-fire-burn-tribeca-review-447429/ The Hollywood Reporter The opera We Shall Not Be Moved (2017), with music by Daniel Bernard Roumain, lyrics by Marc Bamuthi Joseph and choreography by Bill T. Jones, reflects on the tragedy.Tillet Salamishah Salamishah Tillet A Police Bombing, Homes on Fire and an Opera That Grapples With It All September 15, 2017 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/15/arts/music/move-bombing-opera-philadelphia-bill-t-jones.html In November 2020, the Philadelphia City Council approved a resolution to formally apologize for the MOVE bombing.Pilkington Ed November 13, 2020 Philadelphia city council apologises for deadly 1985 Move bombing http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/13/philadelphia-1985-move-bombing-apology live https://web.archive.org/web/20201114062233/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/13/philadelphia-1985-move-bombing-apology November 14, 2020 November 14, 2020 The GuardianIsmay John November 13, 2020 35 Years After MOVE Bombing That Killed 11, Philadelphia Apologizes The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/us/philadelphia-bombing-apology-move.html live November 14, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201114000137/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/us/philadelphia-bombing-apology-move.html November 14, 2020 0362-4331 On May 8, 2025, the Philadelphia City Council approved a resolution declaring May 13 as "a day of reflection and remembrance" in honor of the victims.2025-05-08 Philadelphia City Council to recognize day of remembrance for MOVE bombing https://6abc.com/post/philadelphia-city-council-recognize-day-remembrance-1985-move-bombing/16360241/ 2025-10-08 6ABC Philadelphia en2025-05-08 As 40-year anniversary nears, City Council declares day of remembrance for victims of MOVE bombing https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/move-bombing-anniversary-philadelphia-city-council/4180765/ 2025-10-08 NBC10 Philadelphia en-US Block redevelopment By late fall 1985, the city government and a private developer had begun to rebuild the residential block that the police department damaged with the MOVE bombing. However, the homeowners who moved back in found the construction to be of poor quality,Demby Gene What It's Like Living On The Block That Philadelphia Bombed 30 Years Ago NPR May 13, 2015 https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/13/406175991/what-its-like-to-live-on-the-block-that-philadelphia-bombed-30-years-ago May 30, 2024 and in 1995, the Ed Rendell administration summoned the United States Army Corps of Engineers to inspect the buildings; they found the 61 buildings were not up to code. The city government attempted to remedy this, but by 2005, the city gave up trying to improve the defects and offered $150,000 to any resident who would agree to leave; over two-thirds accepted the deal and abandoned their houses. In 2016, the city government committed to rebuilding the block again;Vargas Claudia On Osage Avenue, rebuilt homes to rise again from MOVE's ashes The Philadelphia Inquirer November 25, 2016 https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/20161125_On_Osage_Avenue__new_homes_to_rise_again_from_MOVE_s_ashes.html May 30, 2024 in January 2023, Mike Africa Jr., who is a member of MOVE and great-nephew of John Africa, bought the house at 6221 Osage Avenue with plans to turn part of it into a memorial.MOVE Bombing: Africa family member buys home on Osage Avenue in Philadelphia for first time in 38 years Ileto Christie 6abc.com May 11, 2023 https://6abc.com/move-bombing-philadelphia-africa-family-osage-avenue-history/13235278/ May 30, 2024Pilkington Ed He was six when police attacked Philadelphia's Black liberation group – now he's making a memorial the Guardian May 12, 2023 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/12/philadelphia-move-bombing-mike-africa May 30, 2024 Use of human remains from the bombings Since the bombing, the bones of two children, 14-year-old Tree (Katricia Dotson) and 12-year-old Delisha Orr Africa, were kept at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. In 2021, Billy Penn revealed that according to the museum, the remains had been transferred to researchers at Princeton University, though the university was unaware of their exact whereabouts. The remains had been used by Janet Monge, an adjunct professor in anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and a visiting professor in the same subject at Princeton University, in videos for an online forensics course named "Real Bones: Adventures in Forensic Anthropology," as case studies.April 23, 2021 Bones of Black children killed in police bombing used in Ivy League anthropology course http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/22/move-bombing-black-children-bones-philadelphia-princeton-pennsylvania April 23, 2021 the Guardian en April 23, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210423060358/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/22/move-bombing-black-children-bones-philadelphia-princeton-pennsylvania live Present-day MOVE members were shocked to learn this, with Mike Africa Jr. stating, "They were bombed, and burned alive ... and now you wanna keep their bones."Remains of children killed in MOVE bombing sat in a box at Penn Museum for decades https://billypenn.com/2021/04/21/move-bombing-penn-museum-bones-remains-princeton-africa/ May 24, 2021 Billy Penn April 21, 2021 en-US May 16, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210516183535/https://billypenn.com/2021/04/21/move-bombing-penn-museum-bones-remains-princeton-africa/ live The city stated the remains had gone unclaimed by the families after the bombing,Kassutto Maya April 21, 2021 Remains of children killed in MOVE bombing sat in a box at Penn Museum for decades Billy Penn https://billypenn.com/2021/04/21/move-bombing-penn-museum-bones-remains-princeton-africa/ April 21, 2021 April 21, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210421193629/https://billypenn.com/2021/04/21/move-bombing-penn-museum-bones-remains-princeton-africa/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter live but in May 2021, the city of Philadelphia's Health Commissioner, Thomas Farley, resigned under pressure after it was revealed that, in 2017, he ordered the cremation and disposal of victims' remains without either identifying them or contacting members of the family.Laura McCrystal Aubrey Whelan Oona Goodin-Smith May 15, 2021 Philly health commissioner resigns over cremating MOVE victims without telling family; Kenney apologizes https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/thomas-farley-resigns-philadelphia-health-commissioner-move-20210513.html May 14, 2021 The Philadelphia Inquirer en May 13, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210513233846/https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/thomas-farley-resigns-philadelphia-health-commissioner-move-20210513.html live A day after Farley's resignation, staff at the Medical Examiner's Office found the box labeled "MOVE" in a refrigerated area of their office containing the un-cremated remains. As of 2021, Mike Africa Jr. stated that the Africa family have not yet decided what to do with the remains.Levenson Michael May 15, 2021 Discovery of Bones From MOVE Bombing Jolts Philadelphia Once Again en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/15/us/philadelphia-move-bombing-cremation.html May 15, 2021 0362-4331 May 15, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210515214415/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/15/us/philadelphia-move-bombing-cremation.html live The sisters' remains from the Medical Examiner's Office were released to their surviving brother in August 2022.Matt Petrillo August 3, 2022 37 years later, brother of MOVE bombing victims plans proper burial after finally receiving sisters' remains https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/move-bombing-remains-released-philadelphia-medicall-examiners-office/ CBS News August 23, 2022 Although the bones used by Monge in the "Real Bones" course were given to the Africa family in 2021, accounts differ regarding how many remains were at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and whether all bones from MOVE bombing victims at the museum were returned in 2021. A legal team hired by the University of Pennsylvania stated that the bones of Delisha Orr were never at the Penn Museum.Report on the handling of human remains from the 1985 MOVE tragedy August 25, 2021 https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/report-handling-human-remains-1985-move-tragedy/ 20 October 2022 However, an investigation by the City of Philadelphia disagreed, and stated that there was evidence that remains of Delisha Orr were at the Penn Museum.Heim Robert C. Tulante Sozi P. Graff Carla G. Tubbs Stephanie A. Ekhator Chukwufumnanya I. Hussain Tooba N. Bradford-Grey Keir Remondino Brian G. Final Report of the Independent Investigation into the City of Philadelphia's Possession of Human Remains of Victims of the 1985 Bombing of the MOVE Organization https://www.phila.gov/media/20220609141446/move-investigation-report-20220609.pdf www.phila.gov 1 July 2022 Nine forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology disagreed with the claims published by Penn's legal team and agreed with those of the City of Philadelphia.Dickey Bronwen She Was Killed by the Police. Why Were Her Bones in a Museum? The New York Times October 19, 2022 https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/19/magazine/philadelphia-move-bombing-katricia-dotson.html/ 1 November 2022 The City of Philadelphia also questioned whether all the remains of Katricia Dotson which were at the Penn Museum were given to MOVE in 2021. In November 2024, further remains were found at the University of Pennsylvania. They were thought to belong to Delisha Africa.14 November 2024 Museum finds remains from a victim of a notorious 1980s Philadelphia police bombing https://apnews.com/article/move-bombing-philadelphia-human-remains-penn-museum-cc10e504fb620fc0903165e92ecfb2e0 AP 15 November 2024 See also Philadelphia Law 1980s Lists of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States Miracle Valley shootout Rainbow Farm Ruby Ridge Waco siege References External links The Africas VS. America, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation podcast telling the history of the incident. MOVE: Untangling the Tragedy, a podcast by Temple University and The Philadelphia Inquirer telling the history of the incident and its aftermath. autocollapse Category:1985 building bombings Category:1985 in Philadelphia Category:Airstrikes conducted by the United States Category:Airstrikes in North America Category:Armed standoffs in the United States Category:Explosions in Pennsylvania Category:Fires in Philadelphia Category:Helicopter attacks Category:Improvised explosive device bombings in the United States Category:Law enforcement operations in the United States Category:May 1985 in the United States Category:Philadelphia Police Department Category:Police brutality in Pennsylvania Category:Political repression in the United States Category:Racially motivated violence against African Americans in Pennsylvania Category:Residential building bombings in the United States Category:Riots and civil disorder in Philadelphia Category:Aerial improvised explosive device bombings Category:Death in Philadelphia