FOR THE FAMILIES

The families of these eleven people have lived forty years without justice. Forty years of vigils and remembrances and “sorry for your loss” and no accountability.

Ramona Africa still travels, still testifies, still demands. She’s sixty-nine. How many more years does she have to fight for this?

The families of Tree and Delisha spent thirty-six years not knowing their children’s remains were being used in university courses. Thirty-six years of compounded trauma, compounded disrespect.

The MOVE organization still exists, still advocates, still demands release for Edward Goodman Africa—the last MOVE 9 member still in prison after forty-seven years.

Every May 13, they gather. Every May 13, they remember. Every May 13, they demand accountability that never comes.

This memorial page is for them. It’s insufficient. It’s the least we can do and far less than they deserve. But it’s what I have to give: documentation, memory, refusal to forget.

A FINAL WORD

I’m a journalist. I’m supposed to be objective, dispassionate, just-the-facts. I’ve been doing this fifty years. I know the rules.

But there are some facts that don’t allow for dispassion.

Tree was fourteen.
Delisha was thirteen.
Netta was twelve.
Little Phil was thirteen.
Tomaso was nine.

Officials knew they were in that house. Officials dropped the bomb anyway. Officials let the fire burn anyway. Officials escaped accountability entirely.

That’s not a fact that allows for objectivity. That’s a fact that demands we choose: Do we remember, or do we forget? Do we demand accountability, or do we let impunity persist?

I choose memory. I choose accountability. I choose to write their names until everyone knows them.

Katricia “Tree” Dotson Africa, 14.
Delisha Orr Africa, 13.
Netta Africa, 12.
Little Phil Africa, 13.
Tomaso Africa, 9.

John Africa, 50.
Rhonda Harris Africa, 29.
Theresa Brooks Africa, 25.
Frank James Africa, 25.
Conrad Hampton Africa, 26.
Raymond Foster Africa, 32.

May 13, 1985.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
United States of America.

This happened. They died. No one was held accountable.

Remember their names.

Truth Has No Borders.

James Theodore Wilson is a Senior Investigative Reporter at True Signal Media focusing on historical accountability. He believes that remembering the names of the dead is an act of resistance and documentation is an act of love.

Note: If you are a family member of any of the eleven who died and would like to share memories, photographs, or personal information about your loved one to add to this memorial, please contact True Signal Media. We will honor your wishes about what is included and ensure your loved one is remembered as a full person, not just a victim.

Contact: [email protected]

This memorial page will remain online permanently. Their names will not be forgotten.