MOVE is an organization formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1972 by John Africa and Donald Glassey. MOVE was described by CNN as "a loose-knit, mostly black group whose members all adopted the surname Africa, advocated a 'back-to-nature' lifestyle and preached against technology."[1] After a deadly standoff with police in 1978, nine MOVE members were sentenced to prison for third degree murder. The group came to international attention in 1985 after an attempt by the Philadelphia Police Department to enforce arrest warrants escalated dramatically. The police dropped a b**** from a helicopter onto the rooftop of the MOVE residence and the resulting fire was allowed to burn. This resulted in the deaths of six adults and five children.

1978 incident

The MOVE members lived collectively in a house owned by Donald Glassey in the Powelton Village section of West Philadelphia. Their actions brought close scrutiny from the Philadelphia police.[citation needed] In 1978, an end was negotiated to an almost year-long standoff with police, but MOVE failed to relocate as required by the court order.[3] When the police later attempted entry, Philadelphia police officer James J. Ramp was killed in a shootout. Seven other police officers, five firefighters, three MOVE members, and three bystanders were injured.[4]

As a result, nine MOVE members were found guilty of third-degree murder in the shooting death of a police officer. Seven of the nine became eligible for parole in the spring of 2008, and all seven were denied parole.[5][6] Parole hearings will now occur yearly.

1985 incident

Subsequently, MOVE relocated to a row house at 6221 Osage Avenue in 1985.[citation needed] On May 13, 1985, responding to months of complaints by neighbors that MOVE members broadcast political messages by bullhorn at all hours, threw garbage and filth outside the building, and kept their children naked as a tribute to Mother Nature, the Philadelphia Police Department attempted to clear the building.[2] The police tried to remove two wood-and-steel rooftop structures, called bunkers by the police, by dropping a four-pound b**** made of C-4 plastic explosive and Tovex, a dynamite substitute, onto the roof.[7] The resulting explosion caused the house to catch fire, igniting a massive blaze which eventually consumed almost an entire city block.[8] Eleven people, including John Africa, five other adults and five children, died in the resulting fire.[9]

Mayor Wilson Goode soon appointed an investigative commission, the PSIC or MOVE commission, which issued its report on March 6, 1986. The report denounced the actions of the city government, stating that "Dropping a b**** on an occupied row house was unconscionable."[10]

In a 1996 civil suit in U.S. federal court, a jury ordered the City of Philadelphia and two former city officials to pay $1.5 million to a survivor and relatives of two people killed in the incident. The jury found that the city used excessive force and violated the members' constitutional protection against unreasonable search and seizure.[9]

WATCH THE 52 MINUTE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT "MOVE" IN SIX PARTS ON YOUTUBE

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=904186338023DDDD



-- Edited by fightPlanner on Tuesday 17th of March 2009 10:43:09 AM