MOVE: Philly Holds a Grudge
from Apologies Accepted Hosted by Apologies Accepted
MOVE was a quasi-political organization that began in the 1970s. Ex-members say it is a cult, current members say it is a peaceful back-to-nature movement meant to reunited mankind with the natural world. In 1978 the City of Philadelphia said it was a terrorist organization that needed to be dealt with, and the city did just that with 400 cops, tanks, bulldozers, hand grenades, and guns. An officer died and nine members were sent to jail based on the forensic work of the police. In 1985 Philly came back to settle the score with MOVE, this time with bombs. An entire city block was lost to fire, which was allowed to rage uncontrolled for hours. 11 MOVE members died in the bombing, 6 adults and 5 children. 61 homes were destroyed by the fire. Did MOVE have a reason to distrust the police? What started it all and how did a group of peaceful back-to-the-earth naturalists find themselves at odds with the Philly PD?
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