The Philadelphia Based Group By John Africa - 1487 Words

MOVE was and is a Philadelphia based group founded by John Africa (Vincent Leaphart) in 1972. This group was a self-proclaimed black liberation group. MOVE lives communally and are often engage in demonstrations against police brutality, racism, animal rights and other issues. This group has had two major conflicts involving the Philadelphia Police. This first in 1978, which was a police standoff that resulted in the death of a police officer, possibly by friendly fire, injuries to several other individuals, and the life sentence of 9 MOVE members. In 1985 there was another standoff between MOVE and the Philadelphia Police Department. This standoff ended with the death of 11 MOVE members, to include John Africa and 5 children, and the†¦show more content†¦The police returned fire with automatic weapons. The Philadelphia Police fired approximately 10,000 rounds. The siege lasted 90 minutes. The MOVE members had a fortified bunker built on the roof top. This was seen as a sniper threat and an opportunity for an entry for more tear gas (Floyd-Thomas, 2002; White, n.d. Trippett,1985). A plan was developed and then ordered by Commissioner Sambor to bomb the bunker and breach the roof. This make shift bomb. containing three and a half pounds of C4 and Tovex explosives, was dropped from a Pennsylvania State Police Helicopter (Floyd-Thomas, 2002). The ensuing blast ignited a blaze that engulfed the neighborhood in flames, eventually destroying approximately 65 nearby houses. The firefighters, that had earlier been spraying the MOVE house, stood by as the fire engulfed the first house and then the others. The order to let the fire burn was given by Commissioner Sambor. It was feared that Firefighter would be targeted by MOVE. The aftermath left eleven dead, five were children, 65 houses burned downer and 350 people displaced. An investigation to the incident showed that Mayor Goode was negligent for allowing a failed operation to continue (Floyd-Thomas, 2002; Trippett,1985; White, n.d.). The investigation into the incident showed a gross abuse of force and negligence by all those involved. This was a major act of police misconduct, but was it one of just a few officers