I was 31 years old when Philadelphia dropped that bomb. Old enough to remember Birmingham, old enough to know exactly what I was watching: another American city deciding that Black livesâBlack children’s livesâwere acceptable collateral damage.
This timeline documents how we got there and where we still are. Every date matters. Every name matters. Pattern recognition requires documentation.
1972-1977: MOVE Emerges
Early 1970s
MOVE Founded
- Organization established in Philadelphia by John Africa (born Vincent Leaphart)
- Core philosophy: rejection of industrial society, return to natural living
- Members adopt surname “Africa” to express unity and liberation
- Begin communal living in Powelton Village, West Philadelphia
1975-1977
Escalating Tensions
- MOVE engages in protests against zoos, animal cruelty, police brutality
- Confrontations with Philadelphia police increase
- Neighbors in Powelton Village complain about noise, sanitation, confrontational behavior
- MOVE begins fortifying their residence
- Police begin surveillance operations
Why This Matters: The foundation is being laid. City officials begin viewing MOVE not as citizens with grievances but as a problem to be eliminated. The language matters: “urban threat,” “dangerous cult,” “domestic terrorists.” Once you dehumanize people, bombing them becomes thinkable.
1978: The First Confrontation
August 8, 1978
Powelton Village Standoff
Morning:
- Police surround MOVE headquarters at 309 N. 33rd Street
- Warrants served for code violations, illegal weapons, parole violations
- MOVE refuses to surrender; standoff begins
Afternoon:
- Negotiations attempted but break down
- Police prepare to breach compound
5:00 PM Approximate:
- Violent confrontation erupts
- Gunfire exchanged between police and MOVE
- Officer James Ramp killed – shot in back of neck
- Multiple officers wounded
- MOVE members injured
Aftermath:
- Nine MOVE members arrested: Delbert Africa, Michael Africa, Janet Africa, Janine Africa, Debbie Africa, Phil Africa, Merle Africa, Chuck Africa, Eddie Africa
- All charged with third-degree murder of Officer Ramp
- MOVE compound demolished
August 1978 – 1981
The MOVE 9 Trials
- All nine tried together (questionable legal procedure)
- All nine convicted of third-degree murder
- All nine sentenced to 30-100 years (far exceeding typical sentences)
- Key Dispute: MOVE maintains Officer Ramp was killed by police crossfire, not MOVE members
- Critical Context: Forensic evidence never definitively proved who fired fatal shot
Why This Matters: The 1978 confrontation creates permanent enmity. To MOVE, the MOVE 9 are political prisoners unjustly convicted. To police, MOVE are cop killers who got away with murder. This mutual hatred will lead directly to 1985. When institutions refuse accountabilityâwhen questions about who really killed Officer Ramp go unansweredâviolence begets violence.