FREE THE MOVE 9!

Download the latest
Friends of MOVE Newsletter

Read the NYC Friends of MOVE statement and get involved to help free the MOVE 9!

The Case of the MOVE 9

One Bullet . . . One Gun . . . Nine Political Prisoners

Background Information
The Move Organization was founded by John Africa, and surfaced in Philadelphia during the early 1970s. MOVE is a revolutionary organization that fights to protect ALL life. MOVE is characterized by dreadlocks, the last name “Africa” and an uncompromising commitment to our belief: LIFE. The system pollutes the air, poisons the water, contaminates the soil, and causes nothing but weakness, sickness, and filth. MOVE is about getting rid of the system and living by Natural Law, in harmony with life.

MOVE confronts the system through information and demonstrations. We protest zoos, circuses, and any person or industry that enslaves life. MOVE exposes politicians who serve industry and greed. We have always been consistent in fighting this system; so it is clear why this would cause confrontations with its protectors—the police.

By 1976, police harassment of MOVE had become frequent and brutal. Many pregnant women suffered miscarriages. On March 26, police beat MOVE members returning home from prison in front of our home. Janine Africa was beaten unconscious, while her baby, 6-week-old Life Africa, had his skull crushed.
On May 20, 1977, MOVE staged a demonstration on the platform in front of our headquarters after receiving information from a government source that the city was planning a major military attack. MOVE responded by holding shotguns. We spoke on a loudspeaker to the neighborhood about the brutality suffered at the hands of law enforcement and that we were no longer going to allow these things to continue quietly in the shadows; the government would have to do it in plain view of the public.

On March 10, 1978, the city set up a starvation blockade around MOVE’s Powelton Village headquarters. Mayor Rizzo bragged it would be so tight “a fly couldn’t get through.” Demonstrations against the blockade and worldwide pressure forced officials to negotiate a settlement. The city released MOVE political prisoners and gave them a workable timetable of 90 days to relocate. It was agreed that the Powelton Village property would be kept as a teaching center in the settlement; however, the city misled the media and public to believe that the 90-day timetable was a deadline and the property would be completely vacated.

In a civil hearing, Judge DiBona ruled that MOVE had violated the 90-day agreement and signed a bench warrant authorizing police to arrest every known MOVE adult, despite evidence that many members weren’t even in the city.

August 8, 1978 Assault
Before dawn, hundreds of cops in riot gear surrounded MOVE headquarters and ordered us to surrender. Police rolled in construction vehicles, tore down the fence, and smashed in the windows. Just before 7 A.M., MOVE was notified by bullhorn that officers would enter the house and take everyone into custody. In the next hour, 45 armed police entered the house and found that MOVE was barricaded in the basement. At 8 A.M., firemen tore off the basement windows and turned on water cannons to drown MOVE out. Soon the adults were wading in six feet of water, holding babies and animals above the water line.

Suddenly a gunshot rang out and police opened fire. In the short period of gunfire, Office James Ramp was fatally wounded. Delbert and Chuck Africa were also shot, as were several firemen and police officers.

Tear gas was shot into the basement soon after, and MOVE adults began carrying out the children. As soon as they came out, their babies were stolen from them, and they were arrested and severely beaten. The beating Delbert Africa sustained was caught on video.

In the afternoon, the city held a press conference where they claimed that MOVE fired the first shot, but eyewitness accounts, including reporters who were covering the event, claimed the shot was fired from across the street towards MOVE. Mayor Rizzo displayed many weapons that he claimed came from MOVE’s basement. There was no proof that any of the weapons had been fired and all of the guns were clean. The basement, in contrast, was wet and muddy.

Although destroying a crime scene is illegal, Rizzo ordered police to bulldoze the property by noon that very day. Crucial evidence proving MOVE’s innocence, including the path of the bullets, was destroyed.

Murder Trial
Twelve people were arrested on August 8, 1978. Two people denounced membership in MOVE and were let off. Consuela Africa was tried separately because there was no evidence she was a member. Phil, Janet, Mike, Janine, Eddie, Merle, Chuck, Debbie, and Delbert Africa were brought on trial before Judge Malmed in December of 1979. The trial of the MOVE 9 was the costliest and most lengthy trial in Philadelphia’s history. MOVE members were stripped of their rights to self-representation and were barred from the courtroom throughout most of the trial.

James Ramp was facing the house when he was shot, while MOVE members were in the basement six feet below street level. The bullet that killed Ramp entered the back of his neck with a downward path.

Despite the crime scene being destroyed, the lack of evidence, no weapons charges being filed, and severe conflicts in eyewitness accounts, the MOVE 9 were found guilty and sentenced to 30–100 years each for third-degree murder and assault charges. James Ramp was shot with one bullet from one gun. When Judge Malmed was on a talk show shortly after the trial ended, Mumia Abu-Jamal called in and asked “Who shot James Ramp?” Malmed’s response was “I haven’t the faintest idea.”

JUSTICE WAS SERVED FOR WHOM?

Update
The MOVE 9 are still in their legal appeals and are in need of funds and support. On March 13, 1998, Merle Africa died under suspicious circumstances at SCI Cambridge Springs. No matter what the actual cause of her death was, she was strong and healthy because of her belief and the way she lived. Prison is unnatural and unhealthy, and it was the prison officials who were responsible for her care. The MOVE 9 are innocent. This system locked them up unjustly and anything that happens to MOVE while in prison is on their heads . . . it is their hands that are covered with blood!

What You Can Do:
Demand an investigation into the ongoing unjust imprisonment of innocent MOVE members.

Write, fax, call the following:

D.A. Lynne Abraham, 1421 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19107
Phone: 215-686-8700 • Fax: 215-563-0047

Mayor John Street, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-686-3000 • Fax: 215-686-2170

Arrange MOVE video showings

Arrange for MOVE to speak on your campus or at a local venue; arrange radio/TV shows

The MOVE Organization, P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143
215-476-9405 • onamovellja@aol.com

Form Friends of MOVE Chapters:
Friends of MOVE (FOM) is an international project with the goal of exposing this system and creating a network of MOVE supporters. This network is extremely helpful to MOVE and all you need is a few people committed to putting out information about the MOVE 9, Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the MOVE organization. You will be given contact information about people connected to MOVE in your area.
What Friends of MOVE will require is a stable address, stable phone number, and hopefully a fax number so that people seeking information can reach you. Someone in your group would call MOVE once a month for an update. You would have the opportunity to organize events on August 8th and May 13th in your area or send a representative to Philadelphia to be part of our annual programs. If this sounds feasible and you would like to be part of this international network, contact the above number or email us for more information.

BE STRONG, BE INVOLVED, BE SERIOUS!
WE CAN’T AFFORD TO BE ANY OTHER WAY!
FREE THE MOVE 9 AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

Sign up to get involved: info@freemumia.net