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The black liberation group MOVE was founded in 1972 in the American city of Philadelphia. He combined a wide range of ideologies, including environmentalism, animal rights, and the end of capitalism. The group’s activities were closely monitored by law enforcement, which sometimes led to several clashes. Tensions peaked on May 13, 1985, when Philadelphia police bombed MOVE’s home, killing 11 people.
Often labeled as a cult, MOVE was founded by Vincent Leaphart, who changed his name to John Africa, a nod to the continent “where life began.” The surname Africa was adopted by all MOVE members, who lived in a community setting in a house in West Philadelphia. The 1985 bombing killed six adults, including John Africa, and five children. The fire that followed destroyed dozens of other houses, leaving hundreds homeless.
In November 2020, the Philadelphia city council formally apologized for the bombing, acknowledging the “immeasurable and lasting damage” it caused and establishing an annual remembrance day. But while the MOVE bombing lives on through Philadelphia residents, it remains largely forgotten in America’s collective memory.
More than 35 years later, our correspondents returned to Philadelphia to remember the day the city bombed its own citizens.
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