US EditionMOVE's 40th anniversary; Chinatown openings; Penn State campus closures
- On May 13, 1985, during a prolonged standoff, Philadelphia law enforcement deployed an explosive device on the MOVE organization’s residence at 6221 Osage Avenue in Cobbs Creek, resulting in the deaths of 11 people.
- The bombing occurred after a 90-minute exchange of gunfire when police attempted to arrest members of MOVE, a Philadelphia-based Black activist organization founded by John Africa, amid rising conflicts.
- The blast ignited a blaze that consumed 61 houses, rendered approximately 250 residents homeless, and permanently altered the neighborhood’s appearance for many years.
- A 1986 commission labeled the bombing reckless and “unconscionable,” while survivors won a $1.5 million lawsuit, yet no officials faced criminal charges despite investigations.
- Philadelphia now observes May 13 as a day of remembrance, with ongoing efforts including apologies, memorial plans, and public calls not to forget the MOVE tragedy.
12 Articles
12 Articles
MOVE bombing in Philadelphia: Police holocaust!
The following article was first published on the front page of the May 23, 1985, issue of Workers World. May 13, 2025, will mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of the MOVE organization. To this day no one has been charged with this heinous massacre. The article has been lightly edited. M
40 years since Philadelphia police bombed Black liberation group MOVE's headquarters
The city of Philadelphia is holding an official day of remembrance Tuesday to mark 40 years since police used explosives to try and force the eviction of the Black liberation group MOVE from their headquarters. The ensuing fire killed six adults and five children inside the house and the fire's spread to other buildings left some 250 people homeless. Ramona Africa, the only adult survivor of the bombing, joined CBS News from Philadelphia to talk…
Philadelphia City Council Reflects On 1985 MOVE Bombing
Source: Bettmann / Getty May 13 marks the 40th anniversary of one of the most tragic and controversial events in Philadelphia’s history, the MOVE bombing. On that day in 1985, the Philadelphia Police Department dropped an explosive device on the home of MOVE, a Black liberation and back-to-nature organization, located on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia. The bombing ignited a massive fire that consumed more than 60 homes in the surrounding neig…
MOVE bombing 40 years later: A day of reflection and remembrance
A worker transports the remains of a body found within the debris of the house of the group MOVE in West Philadelphia, May 15, 1985. — AP PHOTO/GEORGE WIDMAN Forty years ago today, city officials made the unconscionable decision to bomb its own people. On May 13, 1985, a police helicopter dropped a military-grade bomb onto the roof of the MOVE organization home, a row house located at 6221 Osage Ave., in the Cobbs Creek section of West Philadel…
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