MOVE: Philadelphia Bombs Its Own Citizens *THREAD*

MOVE was a revolutionary org founded in Philly in 1972. They sought to bring change by exhibiting an eco-friendly, communal lifestyle. The police weren't fond of them and saw them as a cult whose goal was simply to agitate the authorities.

By the late '70s, MOVE decided to publicly arm themselves, becoming more militant in the face of police conflict. By 1977, the city ordered the group to vacate their home. They agreed to leave if the police released their members from prison. The police complied. They didn't.

The police put a blockade on MOVE, cutting off their utilities and limiting movement around their premises. The actions of MOVE garnered mixed reactions from their neighboring residents, as seen here in comments documented by the Philadelphia Phoenix (1978).

A MOVE ad in the Philadelphia Phoenix (1977) asking for support and explaining their goals of the stand-off with the police.

After over a year, police are ordered to raid the MOVE building on Pearl Street in Spring of 1978. The standoff results in one dead police officer, muliple police/firefighter injuries, and nine MOVE members arrested.

Overview of the 1978 MOVE confrontation:

Part II of the 1978 MOVE confrontation:

Comments by the Philadelphia Police Union President on the 1978 MOVE confrontation. Obviously, the department is going insane about their inability to defeat the group.

Fast-forward to 1983: John Africa, MOVE's founder, was acquitted on weapons/conspiracy charges. He and MOVE members moved to Osage Ave, in Powelton, West Philly. Residents weren't too fond of them, and here's their commentary:

MOVE gave an explanation for their actions in Powelton, explaining that they wanted to put pressure on local residents to get them to put pressure on the city government to release their members from jail.

In 1984, Osage Avenue residents did put pressure on City Hall to do something about the MOVE situation, but they failed and felt like they were neglected. Mayor Wilson Goode says that he doesn't exactly know what to do about the situation.

MOVE kept putting pressure on the residents and the city which ultimately resulted in another confrontation with police in 1985. Residents on the block were ordered to leave their homes for 24hrs. They seemed relieved that the city was finally doing something about the situation:

About 500 police officers with automatic weapons gave MOVE 15mins to vacate their occupied home. They refused. Shooting ensued.