On May 13, 1985, Philadelphia carried out one of the deadliest acts of state violence in U.S. history—the MOVE bombing. In a coordinated assault, the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a military-grade bomb on a residential home. The explosion killed eleven people, including five children. It also burned down 61 homes in a Black neighborhood. Police shot at those attempting to escape the flames.
This was not just excessive force. It was a state-sanctioned massacre, approved at the highest levels of city and state government and involving law enforcement, political leaders, and the FBI.
MOVE: A Targeted Black Liberation Group
Founded in 1972 by John Africa, MOVE was a Black liberation and environmentalist group advocating for a return to a natural lifestyle. The city had long clashed with the organization, labeling them terrorists and repeatedly attempting to evict them.
On May 13, 1985, after failed removal attempts, police dropped a C-4 bomb, supplied by the FBI, on MOVE’s Osage Avenue home. The explosion sparked a raging fire. Officials ordered firefighters to stand down, allowing the flames to consume the entire neighborhood. Those trying to escape faced police gunfire.
The Role of the State: A Coordinated Attack
This attack was not rogue policing—it was an organized government operation. The FBI supplied explosives, helicopters dropped the bomb, and the Pennsylvania State Police aided the siege. Philadelphia’s first Black mayor, Wilson Goode, approved the operation, forever marking his legacy. Authorities did not treat MOVE members as American citizens with rights. Instead, they labeled them as enemy combatants, justifying mass gunfire, tactical explosives, and scorched-earth destruction.
Firefighters Ordered to Let the Neighborhood Burn
One of the most horrifying elements of the MOVE bombing was the deliberate decision to let the fire spread. Officials instructed Philadelphia Fire Commissioner William Richmond not to intervene. Firefighters arrived on the scene but received explicit orders not to put out the fire for over an hour. By the time they took action, the neighborhood was already destroyed, leaving 250 Black residents homeless.
This was not incompetence—it was intentional. The government wanted to eliminate MOVE and make an example out of them.
Legal Fallout: No One Held Accountable
Despite eleven deaths, the destruction of a Black community, and the targeted killing of civilians, no police officers or city officials were ever criminally charged. Instead, the only person prosecuted was Ramona Africa, one of the two survivors. She was convicted of riot and conspiracy and sentenced to seven years in prison.
A federal jury later awarded $1.5 million in damages to Ramona Africa and the families of two victims. However, no real justice was served. Those responsible walked free.
The Desecration of the Victims’ Remains
The brutality did not end with the fire. Years later, researchers took the remains of some children killed in the bombing without family consent and used them for research. The University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University retained these remains for decades, treating them as scientific artifacts rather than human remains.
In 2021, the Penn Museum issued an apology, but in 2023, officials discovered additional remains in their possession, proving the ongoing disrespect toward MOVE victims. The continued theft, study, and disposal of Black bodies reflects a deep legacy of dehumanization.
The MOVE Bombing Was a Government-Approved Massacre
The MOVE bombing was not just a case of excessive police force—it was a premeditated attack on Black resistance. The city, state, and federal government orchestrated the assault, ensuring total destruction and zero accountability. Officials ordered the fire department to stand down, guaranteeing maximum devastation. Ivy League institutions later exploited the victims’ remains, proving that even in death, they treated Black lives as disposable.
This was a war crime on American soil, yet it remains absent from most history books. The fact that so many Americans still don’t know about it shows how the U.S. erases its crimes against Black communities.
Final Thoughts
The MOVE bombing remains one of the most horrific examples of state-sanctioned violence in U.S. history. Justice was never served, and Black communities continue to face systemic violence and displacement.
What are your thoughts on this forgotten Philadelphia massacre? Drop a comment and let’s talk about it.
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