Grand Jury (1988)

Who: Philadelphia County Grand Jury empowered to consider criminal charges

What They Did: Reviewed evidence, heard testimony, issued presentment

Finding: Called bombing “epic of governmental incompetence” and “unconscionable”

What They Didn’t Do: Indict anyone

Why: Claimed difficulty proving criminal intent; officials made “mistakes in judgment” not crimes

The Problem: When you drop a bomb on children, “mistake in judgment” isn’t a defense. It’s an admission. They knew children were inside. They dropped the bomb anyway. They let the fire burn anyway. That’s not mistake. That’s choice.

District Attorney’s Office

Who: Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office responsible for criminal prosecutions

What They Did: Presented evidence to grand jury

What They Didn’t Do: Vigorously pursue charges; push back on grand jury’s refusal to indict; use other legal mechanisms to seek accountability

The Result: No criminal charges ever filed

The Pattern: Prosecutors reluctant to charge police officials. Tale as old as American justice.

Federal Department of Justice

Who: Federal prosecutors with jurisdiction over civil rights violations

What They Did: Monitored situation

What They Didn’t Do: File federal charges for civil rights violations despite clear evidence

The Result: No federal prosecution

Why This Matters: When local prosecutors won’t act, federal prosecutors are supposed to step in. They didn’t. Pattern holds: officials protect officials.

WHO DID FACE CONSEQUENCES?

Ramona Africa

Position: MOVE member, adult survivor of bombing
What She Did: Survived the fire; fled burning building
What She Faced:

• Arrested immediately upon escape
• Charged with riot, conspiracy, multiple counts
• Convicted
• Sentenced to 7 years in prison
• Served full sentence; released 1992

Summary: She didn’t drop the bomb. She didn’t order the fire to burn. She didn’t kill anyone. She survived. She went to prison for seven years.

The MOVE 9

Who: Nine MOVE members convicted in 1978 Officer Ramp death

What Happened:

• All convicted third-degree murder
• All sentenced 30-100 years
• Typical third-degree murder sentence: 20 years maximum
• Served 40+ years each
• Two died in prison (Merle Africa 1998, Phil Africa 2015)
• Six released 2018-2020 after serving 40+ years
• One still incarcerated: Edward Goodman Africa, age 72, imprisoned 47 years

Summary: They were convicted of killing a police officer in circumstances many believe was police crossfire. They served longer than almost anyone in Pennsylvania history for third-degree murder. Meanwhile, officials who bombed children served zero time.

THE COST OF IMPUNITY

Financial “Accountability”

Civil Verdict (1996):

• City of Philadelphia found liable
• $1.5 million awarded total
• Split between Ramona Africa and two estates
• Works out to approximately $136,000 per death
• No individual officials held liable

Osage Avenue Residents:

• 250 people displaced
• 61 homes destroyed
• Inadequate compensation for property losses
• Many never returned to neighborhood
• Some received settlements far below property value

Total Financial Consequences to Officials: $0 in personal liability

PATTERN ACROSS DECADES

I was born in Birmingham in 1954. I’ve watched this pattern my entire life:

1963 – 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing:

• Four little girls killed (Addie, Cynthia, Carole, Denise)
• Bombers identified but not prosecuted for years
• First conviction: 1977 (14 years later)
• Last conviction: 2002 (39 years later)
• No one faced death penalty despite killing children in church

1985 – MOVE Bombing:

• Five children killed (Tree, Delisha, Netta, Little Phil, Tomaso)
• Officials identified immediately
• No charges ever filed
• All escaped accountability

1992 – Ruby Ridge:

• Federal agents kill woman holding baby
• No criminal convictions of agents
• Civil settlement paid by government (taxpayers)

1993 – Waco:

• Federal siege ends in fire; 76 dead including 25 children
• No federal agents charged
• Attorney General kept position

2014 – Tamir Rice:

• 12-year-old killed by police
• Officer not indicted
• Received $600,000 settlement to leave department
• No criminal charges

Pattern:

• Officials kill civilians (often children)
• Official investigations find wrongdoing
• Public outrage
• Civil settlements (taxpayer money)
• No criminal accountability
• Pattern repeats