Code Switch 40 years ago, Philadelphia police bombed this Black neighborhood on live TV
9 snips
May 7, 2025 Lynn Washington, an investigative journalist and professor, joins Mike Africa Jr., a legacy director for the MOVE organization, to discuss the shocking 1985 police bombing in Philadelphia. They reflect on the tragic loss of eleven lives, including five children, and how this catastrophe has faded from collective memory. The conversation dives into the ongoing implications of race and policing, the fighting spirit of the MOVE organization, and the importance of acknowledging this forgotten tragedy for justice and healing in today's society.
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The Deadly MOVE Bombing
- On May 13, 1985, Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on a MOVE rowhouse, causing a fire that killed 11 people, including 5 children.
- Witnesses felt the ground shake and watched their neighborhood burn on live TV.
Complex MOVE Ideology
- MOVE was not simply a Black liberation group but an environmentalist group advocating anti-technology and animal rights.
- Its confrontational tactics and lifestyles alienated neighbors and police but earned some cred for fighting police brutality.
The Untold Baby Incident
- In 1976, a baby died during a clash between police and MOVE, but the city denied the baby's existence due to lack of official record.
- MOVE secretly showed officials the baby's body to demand justice, sparking further radicalization.