Untitled (Police and Firefighters Take Cover During 1978 Shootout)

Untitled (Police and Firefighters Take Cover During 1978 Shootout)

The August 8, 1978 confrontation between MOVE and Philadelphia Police

Philadelphia Police and Firefighters take cover during a shootout with MOVE on August 8, 1978. Police arrived that morning to serve arrest warrants for several members of MOVE. What ensued was a violent shootout, the first armed confrontation between MOVE and the police. In the crossfire, Officer James Ramp was shot in the neck and killed. Nine members of MOVE were sentenced to prison for the shootout and the killing of Officer Ramp.  MOVE denied that they killed Officer Ramp. They argue that the shot came from the police's side of the street. Forensic evidence did not back up that claim, but since the city bulldozed MOVE's headquarters very shortly after the shooting, some bought into the conspiracy. They dubbed the "wrongly arrested" group the "MOVE 9", and began constant protests for their release. This incident sent a message to city officials that any dealings with MOVE had the potential to turn violent. With that in mind, the city often took an appeasement approach to MOVE as to avoid another shootout.

Kitty Caparella, "Cop's Death In '78 Clash Was A Spark"

https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/special_packages/dailynews/20100506_Cops_death_in_78_clash_was_a_spark.html

Philadelphia Inquirer

August 8, 1978

Public Domain

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Photograph

Photograph