On May 13, 1985 the City of Philadelphia ordered the Philadelphia police to drop two bombs onto the roof of the homes of MOVE organization members, primarily a townhouse located at 6221 Osage Avenue. The bombing killed six MOVE members and five of their children. The resulting fire was left to burn by the fire department by order of the police, destroying 65 houses in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood of West Philadelphia. The Free Library of Philadelphia has an extensive collection of materials on the MOVE bombing including documents from the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission and transcripts of public hearings. The ramifications of this bombing are still affecting MOVE and our city today.

On this podcast we will be talking to Janine Phillips Africa and Sue Africa about the 1985 MOVE bombing, the MOVE organization, and their current emotional roller coaster over their family’s remains being held by the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and the City of Philadelphia.