MOVE is an organization formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, in 1972 by John Africa. MOVE was described by CNN as “a loose-knit, mostly black group whose members all adopted the surname Africa, advocated a ‘back-to-nature’ lifestyle and preached against technology.”
Their actions brought close scrutiny from the Philadelphia police. The event that escalated MOVE tensions occurred in March 1976, when MOVE and Philadelphia police skirmished, leaving a number of individuals on both sides injured. One of these was Life Africa, an infant that was killed in the attacks. This death was so heinous that it brought John Africa to move to a more Black-Panther-esque type of armed resistance; that “MOVE would counter with violence if attacked.” The downward spiral of action culminated in two events: MOVE’s outside patrolling of their house with weapons and the later 1978 shoot-out, which led to the death of Officer James Ramp, and several woundings. While the forensics expert at the later MOVE Commission would absolve MOVE from any murder charges as the bullet was fired into the back of the officers head, away from the house.
The group came to international attention after an attempt in 1985 by the Philadelphia Police Department to enforce outstanding arrest warrants for four members resulted in the police firing 10,000 rounds of ammunition into the house and dropping a bomb containing C‑4 and Tovex from a helicopter onto MOVE’s residence. Eleven members died in the ensuing fire, including founder John Africa and five children. The 11 were killed after the decision to let the bunker burn, shooting at anyone that tried to leave the house. This fire ignited a massive blaze which eventually consumed almost an entire city block and left 240 people homeless.
Seven MOVE members who have been behind bars since 1978 for their part in the shoot-out that killed the Philadelphia Police Officer are up for parole in April — amid a swell of opposition from police and prosecutors. The seven were among nine MOVE members convicted in a 19-week trial in 1980 that, at the time, was the longest and most expensive in Pennsylvania history. An eighth defendant will be eligible for parole next year and a ninth died in prison. All nine were found guilty of third-degree murder in the shooting of Ramp, and the attempted murders of the others shot and injured that day.
Offenders are usually interviewed for parole consideration three months before they reach their minimum sentence. Parole can be granted at any time between the minimum and the maximum sentence. They were sentenced from 30 to 100 years.
Members of the group have long railed against the conviction of the nine, saying that prosecutors were never able to prove who fired the fatal shot. There was a lack of evidence presented during the trial, especially about the three female defendants, who were in the basement trying to protect children during the confrontation.
To contact and express support for their release, write or call:
Pennsylvania Board Of Probation and Parole
1101 South Front Street
Suite 5100
Harrisburg, PA 17104–2517
USA
Call 717–787-5699
MOVE say “We suggest that people start to call and write to the parole board in support of our release in February/March since our parole hearing will be in early April. We ask that when possible people send us a copy of the letters they write, so that we can take them to the parole hearing with us as a show of people who want us back home where we belong.
Thanking everyone in advance. Ona Move!”
Move members up for parole:
Janine Phillips Africa #006309
Debbie Sims Africa #006307
Janet Holloway Africa #006308
SCI-Cambridge Springs
451 Fullerton Ave.
Cambridge Springs, PA. 16403–1238
USA
Michael Davis Africa #AM-4973
Charles Sims Africa #AM-4975
SCI-Grasterford
PO Box 244
Grasterford, PA 19426–0244
USA
Edward Goodman Africa #AM-4974
SCI-Mahanoy
301 Morea Road
Frackville, PA 17932–0001
USA
William Phillips Africa #AM-4984
Delbert Orr Africa #AM-4985
SCI-Dallas
1000 Follies Road
Dallas, PA 18612–0286
USA
All of those listed above have served 30 years of an unjust 100 year sentence!
We also suggest that folks contact our folks out there to see if they have anything that people can do to be of help in this situation. They can be contacted at:
The Move Organization
PO Box 19709
Phila, PA 19143
610–499-0979
USA
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Below is a standard letter for you to send to the parole board:
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Pennsylvania Board Of Probation and Parole
1101 South Front Street
Suite 5100
Harrisburg, PA 17104–2517
USA
Dear Pennsylvania Board Of Probation and Parole,
Several people that are members of an organization called MOVE are up before the Parole board in April and I wanted to write you a letter in support of and to urge you to seriously consider them being granted parole. All people I have listed below have served 30 years of an unjust 100 year sentence.
I have read that “seven MOVE members, who have been behind bars since 1978 for their part in the shoot-out that killed a Philadelphia Police Officer, are up for parole in April — amid a swell of opposition from police and prosecutors”. I also know that prosecutors were never able to prove who fired the fatal shot and there was a lack of evidence presented during the trial, especially about the three female defendants, who were in the basement trying to protect children during the confrontation.
I hope the parole board will agree with me that 30 years is long enough and these people should be returned to their families:
Janine Phillips Africa #006309
Debbie Sims Africa #006307
Janet Holloway Africa #006308
SCI-Cambridge Springs
451 Fullerton Ave.
Cambridge Springs, PA. 16403–1238
USA
Michael Davis Africa #AM-4973
Charles Sims Africa #AM-4975
SCI-Grasterford
PO Box 244
Grasterford, PA 19426–0244
USA
Edward Goodman Africa #AM-4974
SCI-Mahanoy
301 Morea Road
Frackville, PA 17932–0001
USA
William Phillips Africa #AM-4984
Delbert Orr Africa #AM-4985
SCI-Dallas
1000 Follies Road
Dallas, PA 18612–0286
USA
Yours sincerely
on a move!