Prompt Cast
The MOVE Bombing: A Tragic Incident of Police Brutality in Philadelphia
TLDR In 1985, the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb on a house occupied by members of the MOVE organization, resulting in the deaths of 13 people, including 7 children. The incident, fueled by a long history of confrontations and tension between the MOVE organization and the police, highlighted the devastating consequences of police brutality and the need for accountability.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
In 1985, the Philadelphia Police Department dropped a bomb on a house occupied by members of an organization called MOVE, resulting in the deaths of 13 people, including 7 children.
04:53
The MOVE organization believed that the system was flawed and needed to be replaced with a more natural and animalistic way of life, which included not using electricity and eating raw meat; their row house in West Philadelphia, heavily fortified and with farm animals in the front yard, stood out in the densely populated neighborhood, and their aggressive and provocative actions caused tension with the community.
09:54
The MOVE organization and the Philadelphia police had a long history of confrontations and bad blood, with both sides feeling victimized and seeking revenge against each other.
15:41
The MOVE organization had a lot of characteristics of a cult, but regardless of whether or not they were a cult, it does not justify the Philadelphia police dropping a bomb on them.
20:37
The Philadelphia police had a plan to forcibly remove the MOVE organization from their house on Osage Avenue, but when their initial plan of using water cannons and tear gas failed, they resorted to shooting at the house instead.
25:37
The police forcibly evacuated the neighborhood and fired 10,000 rounds of ammunition at the MOVE house, knowing that there were seven children inside.
30:07
The police dropped a bomb on the MOVE house, which they knew had seven children inside, in an attempt to destroy the bunker on the roof, but the bomb did not do anything to the bunker and instead caused a fire that the police chief decided to let burn.
35:11
The fire caused by the bomb on the MOVE house quickly spread to neighboring houses and was not contained until more than six hours later, resulting in a large-scale fire that destroyed an entire city block.
40:42
During the fire, some of the MOVE members tried to escape but were shot at by the police and forced back into the burning house, according to witness testimony and evidence.
45:37
The survivors of the MOVE bombing received settlements ranging from $500,000 to $25 million, while the police and fire chiefs were required to pay $1 a week for 11 years to one survivor, Ramona Africa.
50:56
In 2000, due to shoddy construction, 24 families in the neighborhood where the MOVE bombing occurred were offered repairs and buyouts, with most people choosing to take the buyouts, and the area has since been redeveloped.
Categories:
Society & Culture
