Browse Items (40 total)

As the standoff continued, the fire department tried using water from fire hoses to knock down the walls of the compound or the rooftop bunker. Water poured into the building, but failed to create an opening for police. After this failed, police…

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…

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…

John Africa, seen here in the car with sunglasses, is released after being acquitted on weapons possession and conspiracy charges in 1981. Africa (formerly Vincent Leaphart) founded MOVE in 1972. He insisted that all members of MOVE change their…

While initially dealing with the accusations of the mother of one of the MOVE members killed in the bombing, this article also touches on the tactics of MOVE leading up to the bombing. The author never explicitly says it, but this article reads as a…

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…

W. Wilson Goode and his wife, Velma, wave to supporters after he was elected Mayor of Philadelphia. Goode was the first African-American mayor in the history of Philadelphia. Given the turmoil of the Rizzo years, there was hope that Goode would show…

Police dropped the bomb from a state police helicopter as it flew over the compound. The target was a fortified bunker on the roof, which police planned to enter through once it collapsed. Lt. Frank Powell was ordered to drop the bomb. At about 5:30…

As the fire spread to the entire block, police and fire crews watched it burn. Here, a police officer watches the fire from a nearby rooftop. While a later investigation would reveal that Police Commissioner Gregore Sambor and Fire Commissioner…

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…