The [MOVE] bombing was a tragic event that occurred on May 13, 1985, in [Philadelphia]. The bombing was carried out by the Philadelphia police, who targeted the MOVE compound, a countercultural group with a history of violent encounters with the police. The confrontation culminated in the police dropping a bomb on the MOVE compound, resulting in a devastating fire that killed 11 people, including five children, and destroyed an entire neighborhood. The victims of the bombing were Black, and the event has remained a painful and controversial chapter in the city’s history.
The bombing has continued to have repercussions in recent years, with legal actions being taken against the city of Philadelphia for the mishandling of the victims’ remains. The brother of two teenagers killed in the bombing has filed a lawsuit, alleging that his sisters’ remains were mistreated and hidden away for more than three decades.
The MOVE bombing has left a lasting impact on the city of Philadelphia, and it remains a subject of ongoing debate and reflection, as the community grapples with the legacy of this tragic event.
The individuals involved in the MOVE bombing include the members of the countercultural group MOVE, the Philadelphia police, city officials, and the victims and their families.
The MOVE bombing is a significant and tragic event in the history of Philadelphia, and it continues to be a topic of discussion and legal action decades after it occurred.
Sources:
- The Guardian
- CNN
- NPR
- University of Pennsylvania Collaborative History
- The Philadelphia Inquirer
Citations: [1] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2016/jul/29/police-bombing-move-compound-philadelphia-1985-video [2] https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/us/philadelphia-move-bombing-lawsuit-remains-reaj/index.html [3] https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/05/13/406243272/im-from-philly-30-years-later-im-still-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-move-bombing [4] https://collaborativehistory.gse.upenn.edu/stories/move-osage-avenue [5] https://www.inquirer.com/move-bombing/