Browse Items (16 total)

This lengthy report by the County Investigating Grand Jury examines the history of MOVE and breaks down each of the decisions made on May 13, 1985. Much like the Special Investigation Committee, they decided that no criminal act was committed, but…

In this detailed report, the Special Investigation Commission laid out the facts of the incident as well as their findings and recommendations for the future. While they condemned the actions of Mayor Goode, Commissioner Sambor, and Commissioner…

Police Commissioner Sambor submitted his resignation in November of 1985 following the backlash against his actions in the MOVE bombing. At the time, he claimed that he was not being forced out of his position. However, just three months later in a…

In 1988, the state of Pennsylvania took developing company Edwards and Harper to court for misappropriation of funds. Edwards and Harper was hired to rebuild the homes on Osage Avenue, but the construction was shoddy and the work in no way reflected…

This is a collection of interviews done with various people associated with the MOVE bombing. Interviewees include Ramona Africa (a MOVE member and the only adult survivor of the May 1985 confrontation), Officer James Berghaier, Fire Commissioner…

The founder of MOVE was one of the victims of the bombing. Here, supporters show solidarity as John Africa's funeral procession passes by Osage Avenue. Their stance shows that what John Africa created was larger than himself. MOVE did not die with…

Residents were devastated to find that all their possessions had burned along with their homes. Here, unidentified residents weep at the sight of what is left of their neighborhood. While the city promised to rebuild, what residents received were…

Investigators spent days searching the debris for bodies. In all, eleven people were found dead and sixty-one buildings were burned down. From this angle, viewers can get a better understanding of just how much was lost in a very brief period of…

An aerial view of the burned out rowhouses, taken the day after the fire. Osage Avenue is visible in between the ruins. The aerial view captures the totality of the destruction. City officials scrambled to rebuild the destroyed property. Goode…

This photo was taken the day after the bombing. After the fire was put out, first responders arrived on the scene to clean up the damage. Included in that cleanup was taking away the remains of eleven MOVE members who died; five of the dead were…