Let the Fire Burn
Director: Jason Osder
Duration: 01:35:40; Aspect Ratio: 1.778:1; Hue: 30.018; Saturation: 0.128; Lightness: 0.217; Volume: 0.105; Cuts per Minute: 11.132; Words per Minute: 91.686
Summary: 30 years after the Move Bombings in Philadelphia
Let the Fire Burn is composed entirely with archival footage yet unfurls with the tension of a thriller. Jason Osder’s documentary recounts the steps that led to a horrific tragedy on May 13, 1985, when a longtime feud between the city of Philadelphia and the controversial radical urban group MOVE came to a deadly climax.Using only archival news coverage and interviews for a past in present tense approach, first-time filmmaker Osder has brought to life one of the most tumultuous and largely forgotten clashes between government and citizens in modern American history.
A
https://pad.ma/documents/CBZ/ critique by NATALEAH HUNTER-YOUNG states:
"Osder’s film, for me, signalled memory in much the same way that smoke signals fire. Where smoke alerts us to fire’s presence, it can also motion towards fires that burn elsewhere or fires that are no longer burning. There is an undefinable quality to the temporality of smoke but, in Osder’s case, I argue that Let The Fire Burn does the work of historicizing and delimiting a fire that is not out—effectively obscuring its continued presence—by spatially and tem-porally locating it in a context beyond what the audience might understand as thinkable, knowable, or possible in the contemporary moment."
School of Media & Public Affairs THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SUNDANCE INSTITUTE This film was not supported by Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program Film Sales Company Disposition of Michael Moses Ward October 1985
[ Objects Rustling ]
Birdie Africa
Michael Ward
Michael Moses Ward, or Birdie Africa, was the only child to survive the MOVE bombing in 1985; Ramona Africa, the only adult. He was 13 years old when the the Philadelphia police bombed the MOVE house on Osage Avenue on May 13th. Footage of Michael bookends this film, along with a dedication in his memory at the end before the credits. The story of his survival (as told by Officer Berghaier to Reverend Paul Washington) is also one of the longest portions of the film, and in some ways becomes the dramatic crux. Osder is around the same age as Michael and has spoken about how, when he first learned about the bombing as a child, he associated with Michael and the children killed in the bombing.
William H. Brown, III Michael, ah, you remember me from the last time you and I talked? About a week ago? Ah, you don't get, you know, you see this camera? You're going to have to say yes so that camera can take down everything you say because that camera can't take down something when you shake your head. Can you say yes for us? Let me hear you say, yes.
Michael, uh, you remember me
from the last time
you and I talked?
About a week ago?
You see this camera?
You're going to have
to say "yes"...
so that camera can take down
everything you say.
Because that camera can't
take down something
when you shake your head.
Can you say "yes" for us?
Let me hear you say, "Yes."
Yes.
That's pretty good. How about
a little bit louder than that?
Yes.
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
Michael Moses Ward Yes.
William H. Brown, III That's pretty good. How about a little bit louder than that?
William H. Brown, III And we talked about, ah, what happened on the 13th of May? You remember that?
And we talked
about what happened
on the 13th of May?
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
You remember that?
Yeah.
Now, Michael,
do you know what it is to, uh--
to tell the truth about things?
William H. Brown, III Now, Michael, do you know what it is to, ah, to be with-- to tell the truth about things? You're gonna have to say yes. You can't shake your head.
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
You're gonna have to say yes.
You can't shake your head.
Yes.
Okay. What does it mean
when you have to tell the truth
about things?
William H. Brown, III Okay and what does it mean when you have to tell the truth about things?
MICHAEL MOSES WARD a.k.a BIRDIE AFRICA
Don't lie.
Don't lie. That's right.
Michael Moses Ward Don't lie.
William H. Brown, III Don't lie. That's right. And do you know what happens to, to people who lie? Hmm?
And do you know what happens
to people who lie?
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
William H. Brown, III What, what happens to them?
Hmm?
Yeah.
What happens to them?
They get hurt.
Michael Moses Ward They get hurt.
William H. Brown, III They get hurt.
They get hurt.
[music]
Philadelphia May 13, 1985
fake glitch
[ Sirens Wailing ]
leader with sound
action news
eviction
Fire
[ Horns Honking ]
UNKNOWN Yes, the big story on Action News tonight is the effort to evict MOVE from its house on the 6200 block of Osage Avenue. The effort has turned into a disaster.
Here's what Jason Osder, the director of this film, said about the bombing:
“The story is a parable of sorts; it’s a parable of how the unthinkable comes to happen. It’s a tragedy. In my opinion, everyone who was an adult in the city failed that day ... collectively, the whole city failed."
[ Man ] Yes, the big story
on Action News tonight
is the effort to evict MOVE...
from its house on the 6200 block
of Osage Avenue.
UNKNOWN The fire is now five-alarm, still raging out of control as you can see.
The effort has turned
into a disaster.
Fire
weapons
The fire is now five-alarm,
still raging out of control
as you can see.
UNKNOWN An unknown number of heavily-armed MOVE members continue at large, possibly roaming the alleyways.
[ Man ] An unknown number
of heavily-armed MOVE members
continue at large,
UNKNOWN Going in, everybody knew that MOVE would resist anything.
possibly roaming the alleyways.
[ Man #2 ]
Going in, everybody knew
that MOVE would resist anything.
1978 shoot-out
RAMONA AFRICA MOVE
Ramona Africa While the police will say that they come here to arrest people, we have done nothing wrong.
[ Woman ]
While the police will say that
they come here to arrest people,
Ramona Africa
Lucien Blackwell We do not want policemen killed. We do not want people in the house killed.
we have done nothing wrong.
We do not want policemen killed.
We do not want people
in the house killed.
UNKNOWN Fellow officer, James Ramp, was killed 7 years ago. They will never forget that.
[ Man ]
Fellow officer, James Ramp,
was killed seven years ago.
1978 shoot-out
They will never forget that.
Okay. This is unconfirmed.
We've got to emphasize
this is unconfirmed.
UNKNOWN Okay. This is unconfirmed. We've got to emphasize this is unconfirmed. But Channel 10 technician, Fran Hardy reports...
But Channel 10 technician,
Fran Hardy reports--
Chris Wagner An incendiary device was dropped out of that helicopter. Nobody around here has ever seen anything like this.
[ Woman ]
An incendiary device was
dropped out of that helicopter.
Nobody around here has ever
seen anything like this.
Fire
displacement
UNKNOWN We expect that maybe 60, perhaps more, homes have gone up in flames.
[ Woman #2 ] We expect
that maybe 60, perhaps more,
homes have gone up in flames.
MAYOR WILSON GOODE
Wilson Goode I stand fully accountable for the actions that took place tonight.
mayor goode
I stand fully accountable
for the actions that
took place tonight.
UNKNOWN How did an attempt to arrest MOVE members become an inferno that killed 11 people and destroyed 61 homes?
displacement
Fire
mayor goode
Police
[ Man ] How did an attempt
to arrest MOVE members
become an inferno...
that killed 11 people
and destroyed 61 homes?
[ Man #2 ] You can
call the group reactionists,
revolutionaries, terrorists.
Ed Rendell You can call the group reactionists, revolutionaries, terrorists.
That was a decision--
to let the fire burn.
Wilson Goode That was a decision to let the fire burn.
Youth felowship
[music]
TV 12 WHYY WILMINGTON PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission October 1985 - 5 months after the fire
[ Tape Whirring ]
How is the conflict framed here? Years of conflict and a failure to resolve the conflict/different lifestyles in a peaceful way
MOVE commission
[ Stops ]
Philadelphia Special Invenstigation Commission
October 1985 - 5 months after the fire.
[sil.]
COMMISSION CHAIRMAN WILLIAM H. BROWN, III
[ Chattering ]
William Brown, III On May 13, 1985, years of conflict between the city of Philadelphia and a small, urban group known as MOVE ended in a violent, daylong encounter between the groups' members and the Philadelphia police. It was one of the most devastating days in the modern history of the city. Before we call the first witness I want to tell you about this special commission. We are men and women, Black and White, guided by our own attitudes and beliefs. What we hope to accomplish is to begin healing the wounds caused by the failure to resolve conflicting lifestyles in a peaceful way.
On May 13, 1985,
years of conflict between
the city of Philadelphia...
and a small, urban group
known as MOVE...
ended in a violent,
daylong encounter...
between the groups' members
and the Philadelphia police.
It was one of
the most devastating days in
the modern history of the city.
Before we call
the first witness--
[ Man Clears Throat ]
I want to tell you
about this special commission.
We are men and women,
black and white,
guided by our own attitudes
and beliefs.
What we hope to accomplish is
to begin healing the wounds...
caused by the failure to resolve
conflicting lifestyles
in a peaceful way.
[music]
1. "It's not a cult, it's an organization" - MOVE Founder John Africa MOVE documentary 1976 - WPVI
Chapter 1, "It's not a cult, it's an organization."
1976
black Panther Party
MOVE documentary
move philosophy
UNKNOWN Six, five, four, three...
[ Man ]
Six, five, four, three--
[ Tone ]
NARRATOR This is MOVE, the people in an organization that admits to being totally revolutionary. For the past 4 years, they have lived in the Powelton Village area of West Philadelphia, often running into conflicts with police. Their personal appearance has brought stares and some expressions of disapproval from the community. But it what they do that counts, not how they look. In everything from work habits to child raising, MOVE is revolutionary.
Powelton Village, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
1976
This is MOVE, the people
in an organization that admits
to being totally revolutionary.
For the past four years,
they have lived
in the Powelton Village area
of West Philadelphia,
often running into conflicts
with police.
Their personal appearance
has brought stares...
and some expressions
of disapproval
from the community.
But it what they do that counts,
not how they look.
Delbert Africa was a member of the Black Panthers, a different Black activist organization that was also labelled as "radical" and "dangerous." The Black Panthers became nationally recognized after a group in Sacramento, CA armed themselves and walked into the state legislature.
In everything from work habits
to child raising,
MOVE is revolutionary.
DELBERT AFRICA FORMER BLACK PATHER
Delbert Africa Ah, I was indoctrinated with a philosophy in the Panthers that revolution only meant picking up a gun and going out and murdering somebody. I never thought that revolution consisted of revolutionizing myself to get away from the things that caused me to wanna revolt.
Uh, I was indoctrinated with
a philosophy in the Panthers...
that revolution only meant
picking up a gun and going out
and murdering somebody.
I never thought that
revolution consisted
of revolutionizing myself...
to get away from the things
that caused me to wanna revolt.
NARRATOR MOVE does not believe in technology. They use a wood-burning stove for heat, and they have no electricity. But they do have cars, and they have a telephone. Why? All the answers are in the guidelines, their bible left by John Africa.
move philosophy
[ Man ] MOVE does not believe
in technology. They use
a wood-burning stove for heat,
and they have no electricity.
But they do have cars,
and they have a telephone. Why?
All the answers
are in the guidelines,
their bible left by John Africa.
TESTIMONY OF FORMER MOVE MEMBERS COMMISSION COUNSEL WILLIAM B. LYTTON, ESQ.
[ Man ] Miss Sims,
can you describe for me
what the philosophy of MOVE was?
John Africa
lavernne sims
Louise James
move philosophy
What did John Africa teach
with regard to the society in
which you found yourself living?
move philosophy
You're asking
what was being taught?
LAVERNE SIMS FORMER MOVE MEMBER
Laverne Sims You're asking what was being taught?
William B. Lytton Yes, ma'am.
Laverne Sims Okay. Uhm, the absolute truth. We were being taught about this system. The corruption in this system. But mainly, it was just the absolute truth.
Yes, ma'am.
Okay. Um, the absolute truth.
We were being taught
about this system.
The corruption in this system.
But mainly, it was...
just the absolute truth.
LOUISE JAMES FORMER MOVE MEMBER
Louise James What John Africa did was expose the lie in the system. Uncover it.
Louise James provides testimony.
What John Africa did was...
expose the lie in the system.
Louise James
Uncover it.
William B. Lytton Could you describe what you mean by the word "the system", please?
Could you describe what you mean
by the word "the system,"
please?
The system.
The establishment. You.
Louise James The system. The establishment. You.
1976 Campaign Ad Paid for by Rizzo for Mayor Campaign Committee
1976
Frank Rizzo
Children
mayor
[ Man ]
Philadelphia is a tortured city.
Frank Rizzo Philadelphia is a tortured city. Trash piles up at the curb line. Kids are afraid to walk to school. Abandoned homes pockmark the ghetto. Philadelphia needs a strong man for a tough job. Philadelphia needs Frank Rizzo as mayor.
Trash piles up at the curbline.
Kids are afraid
to walk to school.
Abandoned homes
pockmark the ghetto.
Philadelphia needs a strong man
for a tough job.
MAYOR FRANK RIZZO
Philadelphia needs
Frank Rizzo as mayor.
A small,
vocal minority among us...
Frank Rizzo A small, vocal minority among us seeks to destroy the heritage of 1776. We must be ever-vigilant that this minority does not impose its philosophy on the unwilling majority of Americans.
1776
1976
Frank Rizzo
racial politics
seeks to destroy
the heritage of 1776.
We must be ever-vigilant
that this minority does not
impose its philosophy...
on the unwilling majority
of Americans.
[ Man ] In their vigilant
effort to maintain close contact
with mother Earth,
NARRATOR In their vigilant effort to maintain close contact with mother Earth, the MOVE members are breaking up the cement of the sidewalk around their property.
the MOVE members are breaking up
the cement of the sidewalk
around their property.
nuisance
UNKNOWN But you have to have some kind of standard for your organization here.
UNKNOWN Yeah, life. Of course laws.
Yeah, life.
UNKNOWN But you, but you, you are not animals. I mean...
[ Mutters ]
But you are not animals.
I mean--
Why not?
I don't want to be personal.
UNKNOWN I don't want to be personal.
UNKNOWN Oh, no, wait a minute. Why not?
UNKNOWN Why not?
UNKNOWN Yes, we are.
Wait a minute.
Why not?
Yes, why not?
We are animals, because
our reference is no different
than the reference of animals.
UNKNOWN We are animals because our reference is no different than the reference of animals. There's only one reference, and that's life. That's what MOVE is about. Life. Truth.
There's only one reference,
and that's life.
UNKNOWN Right now...
UNKNOWN That's our religion.
That's what MOVE is about.
Life. Truth.
That's our religion.
UNKNOWN Let me...
UNKNOWN I'm saying this is what we're taught by our founder John Africa.
John Africa
move philosophy
We see John Africa
in the same way
that people saw Jesus Christ...
Delbert Africa: We see John Africa in the same way that people saw Jesus Christ because of his carpentry, because of his simple way of living, and so forth. Now, we know that John Africa is a man who can explain Jesus Christ.
because of his carpentry,
because of his simple
way of living, and so forth.
Now, we know that
John Africa is a man
who can explain Jesus Christ.
Louise James When Reverend Audrey Bronson wants to practice her religion, nobody beats her up. But when MOVE wanted to practice their religion, people started talking about, ah, "it's not done that way." There are Catholics and Methodists, evangelists, theologians, you name it. We were the religion of life. Where is it written that we could not have a religion of our own?
MOVE commission
Louise James
When Reverend Audrey Bronson
wants to practice her religion,
nobody beats her up.
But when MOVE wanted
to practice their religion,
people started talking about,
uh,
"It's not done that way."
There are Catholics and
Methodists, evangelists,
theologians, you name it.
We were the religion of life.
Where is it written
that we could not have
a religion of our own?
William B. Lytton Your brother, Vincent Leapheart was John Africa, is that correct?
Louis James provides testimony.
John Africa
lavernne sims
Your brother, Vincent Leapheart
was John Africa,
is that correct?
Laverne Sims Uhm, my brother, Vincent Leapheart, was my brother. John Africa was the founder of the MOVE organization.
My brother, Vincent Leapheart,
was my brother.
John Africa was the founder
of the MOVE organization.
And they were one
and the same?
William B. Lytton And they were one and the same?
Laverne Sims I said my brother was my brother. And I said John Africa was the founder of the MOVE organization. John- Vincent Leapheart is my brother.
I said
my brother was my brother.
And I said John Africa
was the founder of
the MOVE organization.
John-- Vincent Leapheart
is my brother.
[sil.]
MICHAEL MOSES WARD a.k.a. BIRDIE AFRICA ATTORNEY DAVID SHRAGER
Birdie Africa
Children
innocence
Interview with Birdie Africa is very theatrical - creates a strong narrative of his innocence in relation to MOVE.
Michael Ward
David Shrager When Michael was about 2 years of age, he was taken by his mother to a residence occupied by members of an organization called MOVE. And Michael was subsequently given the name of Birdie Africa. Michael Ward was, of course, no more a member of MOVE than a child of Republican or Democratic parents would be styled by a particular party label. He was throughout, an absolutely innocent, guiltless, and under the circumstances, vulnerable child and youngster.
Filmmaker Jason Osden said of his reaction to the MOVE bombings and the children who were killed: "Their parents and the police had utterly failed to protect them." The film seems to be intent on indicting the adult members of MOVE as much as the police. Here we see Michael Ward (or Birdie Africa) talking about eating raw chicken once, interspersed with footage of the children who have protruding stomachs (suggesting malnourishment), while a member of MOVE claims that they look like that because of how well they are fed and hoe much they eat. The footage of the kids chanting seems to underline that they are being indoctrinated by the adults-- while John Africa states that MOVE is an organization and not a cult, the film others the MOVE members attempting to undermine John Africa's statement. Michael doesn't describe any physical punishment and affirms that the adults said they loved the children and that he loved them as well (he nods, but doesn't vocally say "yes" for the latter).*
Osden's choice to include the footage is perhaps to show all sides of the issue and to create a moralizing argument for outside intervention, however this still falls outside of the MOVE commission's purpose, which was to investigate the City of Philadelphia's violent response.
[ Man ] When Michael
was about two years of age,
he was taken by his mother...
to a residence
occupied by members of
an organization called MOVE.
And Michael was subsequently
given the name of Birdie Africa.
Michael Ward was, of course,
no more a member of MOVE...
than a child of Republican
or Democratic parents...
would be styled by
a particular party label.
He was throughout,
an absolutely innocent,
guiltless, and under
the circumstances,
vulnerable child and youngster.
** [ Children Singing ]
UNKNOWN I will not hallucinate, fantasize, speculate about my direction and I ain't gonna allow you to do so. Unless you are asking me to believe in that which is believable, have faith in that which is faithful, trust in that which is trustworthy. Our religion is non-compromising to the conception of insane speculation! Long live John Africa!
1976
Children
John Africa
This shot is a very different depiction of the MOVE children than the Louis Massiah film
'MOVE' children's living condition in 1976, including Birdie Africa at age 4
SUE AFRICA TOMASO AND SUE AFRICA
Children
move philosophy
Sue Africa
Now, when you go to school
and you embrace that education,
Sue Africa Now, when you go to school and you embrace that education, the very first thing you are taught in school is separation, is categorization, alienation, conflict. You're taught black, white, blue, green. Up, down, back, forth. Taught, ah, Protestant, Catholic. Taught Yale, Harvard. Conflict. War. You know, if, if a child does not know that he is Black and I am White, if he is not taught that categorization, if he is not taught that separation, in the place of that, all he can gravitate to, all he can know is harmony, is unity, is love.
the very first thing
you are taught in school
is separation--
Is categorization,
alienation, conflict.
You're taught black, white,
blue, green.
Up, down, back, forth.
Taught, uh, Protestant,
Catholic.
Taught Yale, Harvard.
Conflict. War.
You know, if a child does not
know that he is black
and I am white,
if he is not taught
that categorization,
if he is not taught
that separation,
in the place of that,
all he can gravitate to,
all he can know is harmony,
is unity, is love.
Children
Michael Ward
move philosophy
Conrad Africa What is this?
UNKNOWN Life!
UNKNOWN Life! Life!
Conrad Africa What is that?
UNKNOWN Technology.
Conrad Africa What'll it do to you?
Conrad Africa Can you eat it?
UNKNOWN Hurt.
UNKNOWN No.
Michael Moses Ward at age 4 (1976)
[ Children ]
Life! Life!
[ Brown ]
Michael Moses Ward Some of it.
William H. Brown, III Did you like raw food?
William H. Brown, III Some of it. What did you like particularly?
Children
How the line of questioning is eliciting the raw meat - leading
nuisance
[ Michael ] Some of it.
[ Brown ] Some of it?
What did you like particularly?
Michael Moses Ward Watermelon, mangoes and sweet potatoes and onions.
Watermelon, mangoes...
and sweet potatoes and onions.
William H. Brown, III And onions. Did you all eat any meat at all?
[ Brown ]
And onions.
Did you all eat any meat at all?
Only one time
we ate raw chicken.
Michael Moses Ward Only one time we ate raw chicken.
William H. Brown, III Why would the adults eat cooked food and the children not eat cooked food? Do you know?
1976
[ Brown ] Why would the adults
eat cooked food and the children
not eat cooked food?
Michael Moses Ward They said they wasn't used to raw food.
Do you know?
[ Michael ]
They said they wasn't
used to raw food.
They weren't used to raw food,
and the children were
used to raw food.
William H. Brown, III Oh, they weren't used to raw food and you were-- the children were used to raw food.
Kwashiorkor - Kwashiorkor is a disease marked by severe protein malnutrition and bilateral extremity swelling. It usually affects infants and children, most often around the age of weaning through age 5. The disease is seen in very severe cases of starvation and poverty-stricken regions worldwide.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507876/#:~:text=Kwashiorkor%20is%20a%20disease%20marked,and%20poverty%2Dstricken%20regions%20worldwide.
It does look like protein-calorie malnutrition in the children
As an edit, we hear testimonial denial of malnutrition by John Africa, that is countered by the footage on the screen. There is an ambiguity as to when the footage we view is shot in relation to the narration.
Children
Conrad Africa These kids do not have any skin condition that is normally associated with so-called malnutrition. Their stomachs are full like that because they eat all the time.
[ Man ]
[ Brown ]
Were you all ever punished
for taking the food or anything?
William H. Brown, III Were you all ever punished for taking the food or anything?
Michael Moses Ward Sneaking cooked food?
abuse
Birdie Africa
Children
Line of questioning eliciting child abuse
Interviewer seems to be building a story rather than eliciting facts from Birdie. Of course children cry when they are yelled at, of course children are hollered at. I am sure the questioner would be suspicious if the children were not "disciplined' as well.
Michael Ward
Yeah. Did they punish you
when you--
Michael Moses Ward They had meetings on us.
William H. Brown, III Yeah. Did they punish you when you, ah...
William H. Brown, III They had meetings? Would they ever hit the children? Ah, so you didn't get any spankings or anything like that?
They had meetings on us.
They had meetings?
Would they ever
hit the children?
Uh, so you didn't
get any spankings
or anything like that?
Michael Moses Ward They didn't believe in spanking.
They didn't believe in spanking.
They didn't believe
in spankings.
William H. Brown, III They didn't believe in spankings. I see. Did you, ah-- when they holler at the children, what would the children do?
I see. Did you, uh-- When
they holler at the children,
what would the children do?
Michael Moses Ward Cry.
William H. Brown, III They would cry? Did they ever holler at you?
Cry.
They would cry?
Did they ever
holler at you?
Yes.
Did you cry
when you were hollered at?
Yeah.
Michael Moses Ward Yes.
William H. Brown, III Did you cry when you were hollered at?
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
William H. Brown, III Did they, did they say they loved you?
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
Did they--
Did they say they loved you?
Yeah.
Did you love them?
William H. Brown, III Did you love them?
[music]
2. "I think that's a pretty adequate description of the word 'terrorist.'" District Attorney Ed Rendell
Chapter 2: " I think that's a pretty adequate description of the word ' terrorist.'"
I came in contact with MOVE
back in 1974.
civics
MOVE commission
Police
Bennie Swans I came in contact with MOVE back in 1974. Ah, we had a number of rap sessions with youngsters in terms of trying to offer a different point of view.
We had a number of rap sessions
with youngsters...
in terms of trying to offer
a different point of view.
Did they appear to you
to be violent at all?
William B. Lytton Ah, did they appear to you to be violent at all?
Bennie Swans No, it basically appeared to be a progressive, ah, political organization pretty much concerned about the issues that impacted on the Black community.
No, it basically appeared
to be a progressive,
uh, political organization...
pretty much concerned
about the issues...
that impacted
on the black community.
William B. Lytton Officer Cresse, was there any indication, ah, that you were aware of that, ah, the MOVE members, ah, were potentially violent?
[ Lytton ] Officer Cresse,
was there any indication
that you were aware of...
that, uh, the MOVE members
were potentially violent?
John Cresse Other than being, ah, vocal, no, sir.
Other than being, uh, vocal,
no, sir.
Delbert Africa They can put out weird things like you can hear me use profanity. But is it possible to describe a maniac, a profane, obscene, pornographic freak without using profane words? Motherfuckers!
[ Shouting ]
civics
cursing
loudspeaker
They can put out weird things
like you can hear me
use profanity.
But is it possible to describe
a maniac, a profane, obscene,
pornographic freak...
- [ Cheering ]
- without using profane words?
Motherfuckers!
[ Cheering ]
William B. Lytton Do you have information concerning how many arrests, ah, occurred involving MOVE?
Do you have information
concerning how many arrests
occurred involving MOVE?
civics
MOVE commission
Police
protest
John Cresse There was 141 demonstrations. There was 97 court cases. There was eight meetings, and there was 193 arrests.
There was 141 demonstrations.
There was 97 court cases.
There was eight meetings,
and there was 193 arrests.
MOVE COURTROOM REHEARSAL
UNKNOWN I have as just as much right and my brother got just as much right to speak as you. So what you doin' arrogantly gaveling us down?
I have as just as much right...
court
move philosophy
strategy
and my brother got just
as much right to speak as you.
So what you doin' arrogantly
gaveling us down?
UNKNOWN This is not a forum for your political views.
UNKNOWN What is it?
UNKNOWN Do you understand that?
This is not a forum
for your political views.
What is it?
Do you understand that?
Do you understand
that I was brought here...
UNKNOWN Do you understand that I was brought here because of my beliefs, because of my views?
because of my beliefs,
because of my views?
I object. I think the witness,
at this point,
UNKNOWN I object. I think the witness, at this point, is, ah, is badgering the judge.
is badgering the judge.
They were, in fact,
telling the truth
in the courtroom,
LAVERNE SIMS FORMER MOVE MEMBER
Laverne Sims They were, in fact, telling the truth in the courtroom, and because the judge could not dispute it, because the judge had went to Harvard and Yale and Cornell to learn what law was. They could not understand how a people could stand there, looking as they did, but yet knowing more, in fact, than they did. And this called for many contempts, many beatings in the courtroom. And it was like a repeat over and over again.
laverne sims
MOVE commission
strategy
and because the judge
could not dispute it,
because the judge had went
to Harvard and Yale
and Cornell...
to learn what law was.
They could not understand
how a people could stand there,
looking as they did,
but yet knowing more,
in fact, than they did.
And this called
for many contempts,
many beatings in the courtroom.
And it was like a repeat
over and over again.
JOHN CRESSE PHILADELPHIA POLICE
William B. Lytton Officer Cresse, directing your attention to approximately March 30 of 1976, ah, what if anything occurred during that time period with regard to MOVE?
Officer Cresse, directing
your attention to approximately
March 30 of 1976,
Children
MOVE commission
Police
surveillance
what, if anything occurred
during that time period
with regard to MOVE.
Twenty-four-hour surveillance
was established
at the MOVE compound...
John Cresse Twenty-four-hour surveillance was established at the MOVE compound at 309 North 33rd Street.
at 309 North 33rd Street.
William B. Lytton Around the same time, were-- was there any, uhm, situation that arose with regard to an infant?
Around the same time,
was there any, um,
John Cresse Yes, sir.
situation that arose
with regard to an infant?
Yes, sir.
Could you describe that, sir?
William B. Lytton Could you describe that, sir?
John Cresse Okay. Just bear with me, please.
Okay.
[ Inaudible ]
Just bear with me, please.
[ Papers Shuffling ]
[sil.]
MOVE members re-enacted the incident for the 1976 WPVI documentary.
reenactment MOVE
1976
Children
nuisance
Police
strategy
[ Chattering ]
[ Horn Honks ]
[ Man ]
On March 28 of this year,
at about 4:00 in the morning,
NARRATOR On March 28 of this year, at about 4:00 in the morning, some MOVE members were returning from one of many sentences in the city jail. The MOVE people say they weren't making a lot of noise. But someone in the neighborhood complained to the police. What happened next is the beginning of a controversy that has yet to be investigated. Somehow an argument led to a scuffle. Police reinforcements were quickly on the scene, and MOVE put up resistance. By the time it was over, six policemen reported injuries, six members of MOVE were arrested, and later, it was found that 3-week-old Life Africa, one of the MOVE babies, was dead.
some MOVE members were returning
from one of many sentences
in the city jail.
The MOVE people say they weren't
making a lot of noise.
But someone in the neighborhood
complained to the police.
What happened next is
the beginning of a controversy
that has yet to be investigated.
Somehow an argument
led to a scuffle.
Police reinforcements
were quickly on the scene,
and MOVE put up resistance.
By the time it was over,
six policemen reported injuries,
six members
of MOVE were arrested,
and later, it was found that
three-week-old Life Africa,
one of the MOVE babies,
was dead.
[ Screams ]
[sil.]
CITY COUNCILMAN LUCIEN BLACKWELL
We went upstairs
to inquire reporters there.
Lucien Blackwell speaking black people complain about MOVE. In Bombing of Osage, it explains why the surrounding neighbors were dissatisfied with MOVE, as their actions had extended onto the streets and significantly disrupted the lives of those living nearby.
Lucien Blackwell We went upstairs to inquire reporters there. And we saw-- we were led into a dark room, and we saw what appeared to be the remains of, ah, a baby. And it was their contention that this baby had been killed in a police raid. Subsequent to that, I, ah, introduced the resolution to the city council, calling for an investigation. It never took place and I felt at that time that the MOVE people were being harassed and that it was a racial problem. Shortly thereafter, I received some letters from the people who live on 32nd and Pearl Street. And they indicated that they would-- were displeased with MOVE, and they wanted to meet me. And I went to the meeting expecting to see mostly Caucasian people complaining about MOVE. And I was surprised when I entered the home that most of the people there were, were Black people, just ordinary Black people. And for the first time I realized that it was not a racial problem with MOVE. But that it was something else that I just did not understand. And then I learned, ah, unless you did everything that they wanted you to do, ah, you were an enemy.
Children
City council
middle class
nuisance
Police
race violence
racial politics
Similar to the current anti-drug user campaign in Kensington. Who is a citizen?
The way alleged police violence leading to the death of a baby can be ignored or "complicated" by the behavior MOVE and the reaction from neighbors. Contention that no longer a race conflict of the people complaining are Black.
And we saw--
We were led into a dark room,
and we saw what appeared to be
the remains of a baby.
Lucien Blackwell
And it was their contention
that this baby had
been killed...
in a police raid.
Subsequent to that,
I introduced the resolution
to the city council,
calling for an investigation.
It never took place.
And I felt at that time
that the MOVE people
were being harassed...
and that it was
a racial problem.
Shortly thereafter,
I received some letters...
from the people who live
on 32nd and Pearl Street.
And they indicated that
they were displeased with MOVE,
and they wanted to meet me.
And I went to the meeting
expecting to see...
mostly Caucasian people
complaining about MOVE.
And I was surprised
when I entered the home...
that most of the people
there were-- were black people,
just ordinary black people.
And for the first time
I realized that it was not
a racial problem with MOVE.
But that it was something else
that I just did not understand.
And then I learned that
unless you did everything
that they wanted you to do,
uh, you were an enemy.
[music]
MOVE: Confrontation in Philadelphia Temple University Student Film - 1980 MAY 20, 1977
Temple University Student Film
black Panther Party
strategy
[ Man ]
On May 20, 1977,
MOVE brandished weapons...
UNKNOWN On May 20, 1977, MOVE brandished weapons from their Powelton Village headquarters platform saying, "No longer will we be beaten or intimidated by the police without a like response."
from their Powelton Village
headquarters platform...
saying, "No longer
will we be beaten
or intimidated by the police...
without a like response."
[ Lytton ] To your knowledge,
did any of the members
of the MOVE organization...
laverne sims
Laverne Sims is very self-aware of the way the MOVE commission is being used to paint a picture of MOVE
MOVE commission
weapons
William B. Lytton To your knowledge, did any of the members of the MOVE organization ever possess any weapons?
ever possess any weapons?
- Not to my knowledge.
- Nor mine.
Laverne Sims Nor mine.
Louise James Not to my knowledge.
William B. Lytton Have you ever seen the pictures of May 20, 1977, at Powelton Village, where people are carrying what appear, at least, to be weapons?
[ Lytton ] Have you ever seen
the pictures of May 20, 1977,
at Powelton Village,
where people are carrying what
appear, at least, to be weapons?
Mm-hmm. Yes, I have.
Laverne Sims Yes, I have.
William B. Lytton Were those members of the MOVE organization?
Were those members
of the MOVE organization?
[ With Mrs. James ] Yes.
Laverne Sims Yes, they were.
Louise James Yes, they were.
William B. Lytton Were they weapons?
Laverne Sims I don't know. I don't want anyone to think that I'm insulting their intelligence, but when you have anything like that, regardless to what it looks like, if it is found inside of the house or not found inside the house and it is brought out and it is found to be inoperable, it is found not to work at all, as far as I'm concerned, it's not a weapon. But let me be clear. This can be a weapon. But I'm talking about to the point of a weapon that can fire. It's just like you said you know, what appeared to be weapons.
Were they weapons?
I don't know.
I don't want anyone to think
that I'm insulting
their intelligence,
but when you have
anything like that,
regardless to
what it looks like,
if it is found
inside of the house...
or not found inside the house
and it is brought out...
and it is found
to be inoperable,
it is found not to work at all,
as far as I'm concerned,
it's not a weapon.
But let me be clear.
This can be a weapon.
But I'm talking about
to the point
of a weapon that can fire.
It's just like you said--
What appeared to be weapons.
[music]
MOVE's guns were seized during a police raid and found to be incapable of firing. CRISIS NEGOTIATOR BENNIE SWANS
black Panther Party
strategy
weapons
In my view, it seemed
to suggest a turning point.
Bennie Swans In my view, it seemed to suggest a turning point. It was the point which it became clear that, ah, MOVE, in fact, ah, could become a violent organization. Ah, would, in fact, fight, ah, would, in fact, use weapons in order to accomplish, ah, their mission.
MOVE commission
strategy
weapons
It was the point
which it became clear...
that MOVE, in fact, could
become a violent organization.
Uh, would, in fact, fight,
would, in fact, use weapons
in order to accomplish
their mission.
FRANK RIZZO VIDEO CALIBRATION
Frank Rizzo They named the game. And I assure you, they lose.
They named the game.
And I assure you, they lose.
Frank Rizzo
Delbert Africa We'll do what's necessary.
UNKNOWN What is that?
Delbert Africa The strategy of John Africa.
[ Man ]
We'll do what's necessary.
[ Male Interviewer ]
What is that?
The strategy of John Africa.
John Africa
move philosophy
strategy
What is that?
Our only defense.
Delbert Africa Our only defense.
UNKNOWN What is that?
UNKNOWN What is that?
Delbert Africa The strategy of John Africa.
What is that?
The strategy of John Africa.
You aren't tellin' me anything.
You're just saying
"the strategy of John Africa."
UNKNOWN You, you aren't telling me anything. You're just saying the strategy of John Africa.
Delbert Africa Hey, I wouldn't tell my strategy to you.
Hey, I wouldn't
tell my strategy to you.
[ Crowd Laughing ]
[sil.]
1977 blockade
Frank Rizzo
Police
strategy
In late 1977, Mayor Rizzo ordered police to barricade MOVE headquarters.
We ain't talkin' about
hurtin' nobody's religion.
UNKNOWN We ain't talking about hurtin' nobody's religion. We ain't talkin' about killin' off nobody's religion. Rizzo is talkin' about religion persecution. Don't question the person tellin' the truth. Question the person that's tellin' the lie. All right!
We ain't talkin' about
killin' off nobody's religion.
Rizzo is talkin' about
religious persecution.
Don't question the person
tellin' the truth. Question the
person that's tellin' the lie.
- All right!
- [ Crowd Chatters ]
MOVE supporters defied Rizzo's blockade to deliver food and supplies. MAYOR FRANK RIZZO
Only in a democracy
could they get away with
what they're getting away with.
Communism
Frank Rizzo
racial politics
Frank Rizzo Only in a democracy could they get away with what they're getting away with.
Frank Rizzo If they were in the countries that they represent, like some of the others that were here the Stokely Carmichaels, the Cleavers - that - all ran to Cuba, Red China, Africa, you name it - but they were very anxious to get back here because they couldn't do what they do in this country in the countries whose doctrine they represent. And that's what's wrong with this country. We're backing off too much.
POWELTON VILLAGE RESIDENT
[ Chattering ]
People are people regardless
of their color, their skin,
UNKNOWN People are people regardless of their color, their skin, their religion, their race or nothin'. They're still people. They can bleed. They can die. They can catch diseases. We can all go through the same situations. It's-- it really-- is unnecessary for all of that. I really think it's unnecessary. And it's all going to boil down to a bunch of people getting hurt and killed over nothin'. Over nothin' that doesn't really make any sense.
their religion,
their race or nothin'.
They're still people.
They can bleed. They can die.
They can catch diseases.
We can all go through
the same situations.
It's unnecessary
for all of that.
I really think it's unnecessary.
And it's all going to boil down
to a bunch of people getting
hurt and killed over nothin'.
3:30 AM AUGUST 8, 1978
Over nothin' that doesn't really
make any sense.
1978 shoot-out
Frank Rizzo
Police
weapons
UNKNOWN At 6:10 a.m., Mayor Rizzo finally, after 15 months of confrontation, used the force he threatened all along.
At 6:10 a.m.,
Mayor Rizzo finally, after
15 months of confrontation,
used the force
he threatened all along.
Frank Rizzo The police will be in there to drag them out by the backs of their necks. They're going to be taken by force if they resist.
[ Rizzo ] The police will
be in there to drag them out
by the backs of their necks.
They're going to be taken
by force if they resist.
UNKNOWN If police come in there with their hands, we'll use our hands. If they come in here with clubs, we'll use clubs. But if they come in here shootin' and killin' our women and children and our men, we will shoot back in defense of our lives.
[ Man ] If police come in there
with their hands,
we'll use our hands.
If they come in here with clubs,
we'll use clubs.
But if they come in here
shootin' and killin' our women
and children and our men,
we will shoot back
in defense of our lives.
I've learned one thing
as a policeman. You never
underestimate your opponent.
Frank Rizzo I've learned one thing as a policeman. You never underestimate your opponent. You always get in there faster with more than is necessary, and you overpower them.
You always get in there faster
with more than is necessary,
and you overpower them.
[ Man On Megaphone ]
UNKNOWN You sons of bitches are goddamn motherfuckers. Goddamn motherfucking pigs, goddamn it. I'm saying come on with it motherfuckers, we'll shit on you goddamn fools.
[music]
Philadelphia Police Debrief Film
UNKNOWN Stakeout personnel, using body shields, cover fireman as they position a portable deluge gun closer to the compound.
[ Man Narrating ]
Stakeout personnel,
using body shields,
cover fireman as they
position a portable deluge gun
closer to the compound.
[ Helicopter Whirring ]
[sil.]
[ Gunfire ]
UNKNOWN Shots have been fired!
[ Man Shouts ]
Shots have been fired!
[ Narrator ]
Officers and firemen
are wounded by gunfire.
UNKNOWN Officers and firemen are wounded by gunfire. First deluge gun goes out of control. Other officers and firemen begin to pull the wounded personnel out of the line of fire. Officer Ramp, shown here lying on his back, has now been mortally wounded. Officer Hesson, also wounded, crawls over and attempts to shield officer Ramp.
First deluge gun
goes out of control.
[ Gunfire Continues ]
Other officers and firemen
move in to pull
the wounded personnel...
out of the line of fire.
James Ramp
Officer Ramp, shown here
lying on his back,
has now been mortally wounded.
Officer Hesson, also wounded,
crawls over and attempts
to shield Officer Ramp.
[sil.]
Is this footage degraded/made black and white in the film edit?
Officer James Ramp was killed in the shootout. Four other police and five firefighters were injured. ED RENDELL PHILA. DISTRICT ATTORNEY
MOVE commission
terrorism
[ Woman ]
Mr. Rendell, um,
Reverend Audrey Bronson Mr. Rendell, uhm, did you consider the MOVE organization to be a terrorist group?
did you consider
the MOVE organization
to be a terrorist group?
Ed Rendell They had demonstrated, ah, a past history of violence. Ah, they had demonstrated a willingness to use the violence, force or the threat of violence or force to achieve their objectives, ah, that, that, ah, it was almost difficult, if not well-nigh impossible, to deal with them in any rational basis that their stated goals as a group that was a back-to-nature group were, frankly, a bunch of bull. People who have killed one person, injured several others, people who threaten to blow up people's houses, people who threaten to shoot and kill neighbors, police, elected officials, ah, I think that's a pretty adequate description of the word "terrorist."
They had demonstrated
a past history of violence.
Uh, they had demonstrated
a willingness to use
violence, force...
or the threat
of violence or force
to achieve their objectives.
It was almost difficult,
if not well nigh impossible,
to deal with them
in any rational basis...
that their stated goals
as a group...
that was a back-to-nature group
were, frankly, a bunch of bull.
People who have
killed one person,
injured several others,
people who threaten to blow up
people's houses,
people who threaten to shoot
and kill neighbors, police,
elected officials--
I think that's
a pretty adequate description
of the word "terrorist."
[music]
DISTRICT ATTORNEY ED RENDELL
Africa Children
1978 shoot-out
Children
With every step of the way,
including the final act today,
Ed Rendell With every step of the way, including the final act today, the police used commendable restraint, ah, and it was done for many reasons. Most of all because of the children who are present today.
Osder builds the competing perspectives of
MOVE members and state officials on top of, and in opposition to, the other, presumably leaving the
audience to decide for themselves who warrants guilt—effectively placing MOVE on cinematic trial
with the audience acting as jury.
11 However, to formally juxtapose the death of an active duty police
officer during a shootout that the state launched with the violent brutalization of Delbert Africa as
he slowly walked toward police in surrender—unarmed, with his hands up—demonstrates a recurring
directorial failure to appropriately gauge differences in both context and scope.
The attempt at objectivity betrays itself.
NATALEAH HUNTER-YOUNG
SMOKE SCREENS
AND CINEMATIC REPRESENTATIONS OF THE MOVE BOMBING
https://pad.ma/documents/CBZ/4
the police used commendable
restraint, uh, and it was done
for many reasons.
Most of all because of the
children who are present today.
Pat Warren There had been much concern on the part of many people that the police would make a violent assault on the MOVE members. As it turned out, the police acted with precision and restraint.
[ Woman ]
There had been much concern
on the part of many people...
that the police would make
a violent assault
on the MOVE members.
As it turned out,
the police acted
with precision and restraint.
UNKNOWN When one of the MOVE members came out of the window with a cartridge case in one hand, a clip and with a knife in the other, nor he was hit on the top of the head with a steel helmet and was taken into custody. That's what you're referring to.
[ Man ]
When one of the MOVE members
came out of the window...
with a cartridge case
in one hand,
a clip and with a knife
in the other,
he was hit
on the top of the head
with a steel helmet...
and was taken into custody.
That's what you're referring to.
[sil.]
Film effectively depicts the logic of police intervention. However does not capture the asymmetry in how the encounter is "staged" or escalated.
Police
[ Shouting ]
[ Man At Scene ]
He's hittin' him.
He's hittin' him.
UNKNOWN He's hittin' him. He's hittin' him. Hittin' him on the head. Kickin' him on the head!
Hittin' him on the head.
Kickin' him on the head!
UNKNOWN I have no idea. I couldn't see.
UNKNOWN Cops, you're makin' a mistake doin' that.
[ Man #2 ]
I have no idea. I couldn't see.
William B. Lytton Ms. Sims, can you describe for me what the philosophy of MOVE was? What did John Africa teach with regard to the society in which you found yourself living?
As an edit this clip occurs early in the film, as a stylistic foreshadowing of eventual an eventual barricading of the MOVE HQ. The turn towards a radical politic of the individual and its hermitic formation as a fortified and barricaded house.
Cops, you're makin' a mistake
doin' that.
Your ass they are.
UNKNOWN Your ass they are.
The police probably
would have been legally
within their rights...
Ed Rendell
Frank Rizzo
violence
Ed Rendell The police probably would have been legally within their rights to have killed all of the 12 people in that basement.
to have killed all of
the 12 people in that basement.
UNKNOWN Do you believe this is a symbolic gesture, tearing their house down at this point, the very day of the shootout?
1978 shoot-out
displacement
Home
Police
strategy
This tactic is very familiar for Philadelphia police. Blockage to stage escalation, massive surge of force, then rapid destruction of the places that house resistance.
[ Woman ]
Do you believe
this is a symbolic gesture,
tearing their house down
at this point,
the very day of the shootout?
[ Man ] I think behind it
is the question
we gotta ask is why.
UNKNOWN I think behind it is the question we gotta ask is why.
James Ramp
MOVE members believed there was a police cover-up and that Officer Ramp was actually killed by friendly fire.
UNKNOWN There's a suspicion that some shots had come ill-- ah, from elsewhere. Walt Hunter from WCAU, by the way, swears that a shot was fired going in this direction.
There's a suspicion
that some shots
had come from elsewhere.
weapons
Walt Hunter from WCAU, by
the way, swears that a shot was
fired going in this direction.
Police recovered a cache of working firearms from the MOVE house.
UNKNOWN People who know us know that we're not terrorists. We fight cops because they're dirty. They're filthy. They're criminal.
1978 shoot-out
black Panther Party
James Ramp
MOVE 9
Police
prison
[ Man ]
People who know us
know that we're not terrorists.
We fight cops because
they're dirty. They're filthy.
They're criminal.
[ Rizzo ] The sad part
of it is that this incident
is not yet over.
Frank Rizzo The sad part of it is that this incident is not yet over. There will still be misguided voices in the community seeking clemency for these criminals.
There will still be misguided
voices in the community...
seeking clemency
for these criminals.
UNKNOWN Long live MOVE! Long live revolution! Long live John Africa! It's the MOVE organization.
[ Together ]
Long live MOVE!
Long live revolution!
Long live John Africa!
[ Woman ]
It's the MOVE organization.
Nine MOVE members were prosecuted for the murder of Officer Ramp. They were sentenced to prison terms from 30 to 100 years. District Attorney Rendell brought charges against three of the officers who beat Delbert Africa.
Delbert Africa
Ed Rendell
impunity
Police
UNKNOWN What they should have done is shot that goddamn bum, and then there would have been no trouble today.
[ Man ]
What they should have done
is shot that goddamn bum,
The officers were found nor guilty.
and then there would have been
no trouble today.
This police department
in Philadelphia
could invade Cuba and win.
elections
Frank Rizzo
mayor goode
Police
Frank Rizzo This police department in Philadelphia could invade Cuba and win. What I'm saying, Tom Snyder, is that we are now trained and equipped to fight wars.
What I'm saying, Tom Snyder,
is that we are now trained
and equipped to fight wars.
[ Chanting ]
Four more years, hell no!
No more Rizzo! Got to go!
UNKNOWN Four more years, hell no! No more Rizzo! Got to go! Four more years, hell no! No more Rizzo! Got to go! Four more years, hell no!
Four more years, hell no!
No more Rizzo! Got to go!
Four more years, hell no!
Wilson Goode was elected in November 1983 and became the first black mayor of Philadelphia.
[ Crowd Cheering ]
How does the music function in relation to the images? Peaceful tonality versus footage of a 'victory' for the state appuratus and resolute perseverance of MOVE and John Africa.
Wilson Goode All of us, from all neighborhoods, from all walks of life can solve the problem facing our city.
this in-and-out clip, 'Gymnopédies' by the French Composer Erik Satie (1866 – 1 1925) is played to accompany footage of conflict between the police and the MOVE. With chants of "kick him in the head" that accompanies police footage of brutality after the submission of a MOVE member. As well as a mayoral speech and interviews with John Africa and other community mem.
All of us,
from all neighborhoods...
from all walks of life...
can solve the problem
facing our city.
[music]
John Africa was arrested in 1979 for a firearms violation. He represented himself in court and was found not guilty.
court
John Africa
weapons
UNKNOWN Leapheart was asked how he felt when the verdict was read.
[ Man ]
Leapheart was asked how he felt
when the verdict was read.
John Africa
John Africa Nothing. I was asleep.
UNKNOWN What are your plans in terms of staying in Philadelphia and trying to, ah, continue the MOVE cult?
What are your plans
in terms of
staying in Philadelphia...
John Africa It's not a cult. It's an organization.
and trying to continue
the MOVE cult?
It's not a cult.
It's an organization.
House
Louise James
By 1984, MOVE had set up a new headquarters in the Philadelphia townhouse of Louise James. NOVELLA WILLIAMS COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
Novella Williams cross reference 2
Novella Williams When you appear to be different you become angry, and you will do things out of the norm.
When you appear
to be different...
Novella Williams
Novella Williams
you become angry,
and you will do things
out of the norm.
repeat shot
loudspeaker
[music]
3. "What is in this house is the strategy of John Africa that is very explosive." - Ramona Africa
House
John Africa
strategy
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
[ Brown ]
Did you ever think
about leaving MOVE?
William H. Brown, III Did you ever think about leaving MOVE?
Yeah.
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
William H. Brown, III Ah, when was that?
Michael Moses Ward A long time ago.
Uh, when was that?
A long time ago.
A long time ago?
Why did you want to leave MOVE?
William H. Brown, III A long time ago? Why did you want to leave MOVE?
Michael Moses Ward 'Cause we couldn't do what other kids do.
'Cause we couldn't do
what other kids do.
William H. Brown, III You couldn't do what the other kids did? Ah, what were the other children allowed to do who were outside of MOVE that you couldn't do?
You couldn't do
what the other kids did?
Birdie Africa
Michael Ward
Uh, what were the other children
allowed to do who were outside
of MOVE that you couldn't do?
Children
Michael Moses Ward Ah, play with toys and stuff and ride bikes and watch TV.
[ Michael ]
Uh, play with toys and stuff
and ride bikes and watch TV.
William H. Brown, III Did you tell anyone that you wanted to leave? Who'd you tell?
Did you tell anyone
that you wanted to leave?
Who'd you tell?
Oh, we told--
We told each other.
Michael Moses Ward Oh, we told, we told each other.
[music]
From their new headquarters, MOVE focused on getting their convicted members out of prison. GEORGE DRAPER POLICE CIVIL AFFAIRS OFFICER
blue-collar
1978 shoot-out
Children
prison
[ Man ]
This is
a blue-collar neighborhood.
Children
George Draper This is a blue-collar neighborhood. And any given summer day you have the children, ah, playing in the streets. You have, ah, a mother maybe sitting on the steps. Neighbors talking to each other. And all of a sudden on their loudspeaker, you'd hear a voice would come out and say, "You motherfuckers. What the fuck are you doin' out here now?" Do you know what's going on here? You son of a bitches around here fuckin' everybody up. "What the fuck is going on?" Anything that was vile, they would go into it.
And any given summer day
you have the children,
Children
cursing
loudspeaker
MOVE commission
strategy
uh, playing in the streets.
You have a mother
maybe sitting on the steps.
Neighbors talking to each other.
And all of a sudden
on their loudspeaker,
In Bombing of Osage, at 43:24, Norella Williams explains that the reason MOVE members cursed over the loudspeaker was to draw attention and make people aware that their brothers and sisters were still in prison.
you'd hear a voice
would come out and say,
"You motherfuckers.
What the fuck
are you doin' out here now?
cursing
Lloyd Wilson
Lloyd Wilson shows up in the Louis Massiah film as well in a different context. Why did the city choose to interview these neighbors?
loudspeaker
MOVE commission
nuisance
strategy
What was the purpose of the MOVE commission? Line of inquiry on MOVE but no line of inquiry on the bombing of MOVE?
Do you know
what's going on here?
You son of a bitches around here
fuckin' everybody up.
What the fuck is goin' on?"
Anything that was vile,
they would go into it.
UNKNOWN We gonna fuck you up. We gonna come after you mothers. All you greedy-ass motherfuckers. Get the fuck on down here...
CARRIE FOSKEY OSAGE AVE. RESIDENT
Carrie Foskey The filth it was, it was unbelievable -
The filth-- It was-- It was...
This clip of Carrie Foskey speaking at the hearing is also featured prominently in "Bombing of Osage," Louis Massiah's 1986 documentary about the MOVE bombing at 40:07-40:16
unbelievable
that something like this
could be in someone's mind.
Carrie Foskey - that it is to be in-- sa-- something like this could be in someone's mind.
UNKNOWN And this went on...
LLOYD WILSON NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR
It's one thing to be
two blocks away and hear it.
Lloyd Wilson It's one thing to be two blocks away and hear it. But to live right next door, full blast in, in our bedroom. I watched my wife many nights lay there in that bed and cry would-- nothin' else she could do. I think that, ah, we-- what we really hoped for was that, ah, some kind of way the city would find a way to deal with the situation.
But to live right next door,
full blast in our bedroom.
I watched my wife many nights
lay there in that bed and cry.
Wasn't nothin' else
she could do.
I think that, uh,
what we really hoped for...
was that some kind of way...
the city would find a way
to deal with the situation.
move philosophy
MOVE PHYSICAL TRAINING
The only thing that
was happening is that MOVE
was taking a stand...
Laverne Sims The only thing that was happening is that MOVE was taking a stand against the injustice that has been dropped on them by this administration and the Rizzo administration. MOVE's principle has never changed. MOVE's mood, I'm talking about bitterness now, did change.
laverne sims
MOVE commission
against the injustice
that has been dropped on them...
by this administration
and the Rizzo administration.
MOVE's principle
has never changed.
MOVE's mood-- I'm talking
about bitterness now--
did change.
loudspeaker
nuisance
strategy
CRISIS NEGOTIATOR BENNIE SWANS
[ Shouting Through Megaphone,
Indistinct ]
[ Swans ]
They made, in my view,
a conscious decision...
Bennie Swans They made, in my view, a conscious decision to aggravate residents to the point was that the residents would, in fact, ah, demand for the city, ah, to take actions to provide them with relief. And in that regard, the city would be forced into doing one of two things, to engage in confrontation or to engage in compromise.
Bennie Swans
MOVE commission
neighbors
nuisance
strategy
This is a very sober discussion by Bennie Swans of MOVE's strategy here and what they were responding to and trying to do.
to aggravate residents to
the point was that the residents
would, in fact,
demand for the city
to take actions
to provide them with relief.
And in that regard,
the city would be forced
into doing one of two things--
to engage in confrontation
or to engage in compromise.
CLIFFORD BOND OSAGE AVE. RESIDENT
Clifford Bond There was a lot of hostility between those two entities. I think it must be researched why the hostility was there.
There was a lot of hostility
between those two entities.
Both Let the Fire Burn and the Bombing of Osage Ave are texts responding directly to the MOVE commission hearings and other media primarily.
Clifford Bond
nuisance
strategy
I think it must be researched
why the hostility was there.
William H. Brown, III Which two entities, Mr. Bond?
[ Brown ]
Which two entities, Mr. Bond?
Uh, the city of Philadelphia
and the MOVE organization.
Clifford Bond Ah, the city of Philadelphia and the MOVE organization. And as a pawn, we were caught in-between. And nobody, frankly, gave a damn.
And as a pawn,
we were caught in-between.
And nobody, frankly,
gave a damn.
nuisance
The neighbors filed complaints against MOVE, citing harassment, sanitation issues, and child neglect. WILSON GOODE MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA
Wilson Goode As I met with 15 residents, ah, of Osage Avenue on Memorial Day, ah, 1984. At that meeting, I said to them that I will research as to whether or not there is a legal basis, ah, for the city to do something about the problem that you have brought, ah, ah, brought to us. But also pointed out to them that the mayor does not have the authority, ah, because he does not like, ah, the neighbors do not like, the way someone live to simply go in and evict the people from their house. We don't have those kinds of options in this democracy.
I met with 15 residents,
uh, of Osage Avenue...
democracy
eviction
mayor goode
MOVE commission
on Memorial Day, 1984.
At that meeting,
I said to them...
that I will research
as to whether or not
there is a legal basis,
uh, for the city to do something
about the problem that
you have brought to us.
But also pointed out to them...
that the mayor
does not have the authority...
because he does not like,
or the neighbors do not like,
the way someone live...
to simply go in and evict
the people from their house.
We don't have those kinds
of options in this democracy.
MAY 3, 1984
[ Siren Wailing ]
escalation
Police
weapons
UNKNOWN Today, more than three dozen Philadelphia policemen surrounded the building after a MOVE member was spotted on the roof wearing a hooded mask and carrying a shotgun. That standoff lasted less than 2 hours. Police did not enter the house, and no arrests were made. In the last several weeks, their actions have escalated tensions in the neighborhood leading to tonight's situation.
[ Men ] Today, more than three
dozen Philadelphia policemen
surrounded the building...
after a MOVE member was spotted
on the roof wearing a hooded
mask and carrying a shotgun.
That standoff
lasted less than two hours.
Police did not enter the house,
and no arrests were made.
In the last several weeks,
their actions have escalated
tensions in the neighborhood...
leading to tonight's situation.
CLIFFORD BOND OSAGE AVE. RESIDENT
Clifford Bond When the individual was on the roof with the mask and the shotgun, my daughter was in our picture window. And she said, "Daddy, what is the man doing on top of the roof with a gun?" And I didn't have an answer. She asked, "Isn't that against the law?" And I said yes. Well, I don't know how you can say that for a certain group of people, the law applies and then another group of people, that same law doesn't apply. I think we were in the law in, ah, ah, equal basis, if I'm correct.
Children
Clifford Bond
MOVE commission
nuisance
weapons
When the individual
was on the roof
with the mask and the shotgun,
my daughter was
in our picture window.
And she said, "Daddy, what is
the man doing on top of the roof
with a gun?"
And I didn't have an answer.
She asked, "Isn't that
against the law?"
And I said yes.
Well, I don't know how you
can say that for a certain group
of people, the law applies...
and then
another group of people,
that same law doesn't apply.
I think we were in the law
on an equal basis,
if I'm correct.
CASSANDRA CARTER NEIGHBOR OF MOVE
Cassandra Carter You would see them dragging logs from the park up the street. You could see that the line you know, in the street from, I guess, the oil out of the trees that they would drag up.
You would see them dragging logs
from the park up the street.
MOVE commission
nuisance
You could see that the line
in the street...
from, I guess,
the oil out of the trees
that they would drag up.
George Draper Wood would be stacked up in front of the house at 6221. There was so much of it that we requested that they, ah, do something with it.
Wood would be stacked up
in front of the house at 6221.
There was so much of it
that we requested that they...
do something with it.
William B. Lytton What was the response to that request?
George Draper They responded and, ah, put it on top of the roof.
[ Lytton ]
What was the response
to that request?
They responded
and put it on top of the roof.
strategy
loudspeaker
strategy
Michael Moses Ward We used to play on the roof.
We used to play on the roof.
[ Brown ] You used to
play on the roof a lot?
Birdie Africa
bunker
House
Michael Ward
William H. Brown, III You used to play on the roof a lot?
Michael Moses Ward A lot, a lot of times.
[ Michael ]
A lot of times.
- Now, you said something
about a bunker.
- [ Michael ] Mm-hmm.
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm.
William H. Brown, III Now, you said something about a bunker.
William H. Brown, III How many bunkers that were there on the roof?
How many bunkers were there
on the roof?
Michael Moses Ward Two.
William H. Brown, III Two? And do you know what they were made of?
Two.
Two?
And do you know
what they were made of?
Michael Moses Ward Tree wood, and regular wood, and then we put steel on it and then we put plyboard on it.
[ Michael ]
[ Brown ]
What kind of holes
did they have in the bunkers?
William H. Brown, III What kind of holes did they have in the bunkers?
Michael Moses Ward Like there was-- the, the bunker was halfway over the roof like, like this, and you could look down. You could see up the street in the-- all over.
Like the bunker was halfway
over the roof like this,
and you could look down.
You could see up the street
in the-- all over.
William H. Brown, III Do you know what those holes were for?
Do you know what
those holes were for?
Michael Moses Ward They said for shooting holes.
MOVE commission
What is the model "doing" in the MOVE commissin?
bunker
MOVE commission
strategy
[music]
The commission brought in a model of Osage Avenue to help clarify witnesses' testimony.
William Richmond That bunker you see there is kind of, ah, a toyish-looking thing, and I will tell you on Osage Avenue, it commanded the scene. It, it overlooked and overpowered anything you may-- you make-- you can imagine. It was awesome.
That bunker you see there is
kind of a toyish-looking thing,
and I will tell you
on Osage Avenue,
it commanded the scene.
It overlooked
and overpowered anything
you may-- you can imagine.
It was awesome.
UNKNOWN There's been talk that there are explosives in this house. Ah, is there any truth to that?
[ Man ]
There's been talk that there
are explosives in this house.
confrontation
John Africa
Ramona Africa
Uh, is there any truth to that?
RAMONA AFRICA MOVE
Ramona Africa That's only people's, ah, you know, hallucination because they have not been inside this house. So they would not know what is in this house. What is in this house is the strategy of John Africa that is very explosive.
That's only people's,
you know, hallucination...
because they have
not been inside this house.
So they would not know
what is in this house.
What is in this house is
the strategy of John Africa
that is very explosive.
UNKNOWN Is it a confrontation?
Is it a confrontation?
It most certainly
is a confrontation,
Ramona Africa It most certainly is a confrontation, one strategized by John Africa years and years and years ago.
one strategized by John Africa
years and years and years ago.
"Destroying civilized activity" the ideology is a threat to civilization itself
1978 shoot-out
confrontation
MOVE commission
Police
[ Lytton ]
Commissioner, could you tell us
what the lessons were...
William B. Lytton Commissioner, could you tell us what the lessons were that you felt were learned in the 1978 confrontation from your point of view?
that you felt were learned
in the 1978 confrontation
from your point of view?
POLICE COMMISSIONER GREGORE SAMBOR
Gregore Sambor From my point of view, sir, was that MOVE was a group who was bent by virtue of their dogma and by their actions of destroying civilized, ah, activity and ability to live in a neighborhood peacefully.
From my point of view, sir,
was that MOVE was a group...
who was bent
by virtue of their dogma
and by their actions...
of destroying
civilized activity...
and ability to live in
a neighborhood peacefully.
UNKNOWN Tonight, there are growing concerns about the controversial group, MOVE. City officials met today for the second straight day to discuss strategy.
eviction
media
Tonight, there are
growing concerns about
the controversial group, MOVE.
City officials met today
for the second straight day
to discuss strategy.
POLOCE ADMIN. BUILDING
UNKNOWN Sources reveal that Philadelphia's District Attorney has now prepared the warrants that are legally necessary to evict MOVE members from their home. Once those warrants are signed by a judge, action by police to evict MOVE could come at pretty much any time.
Sources reveal that
Philadelphia's District Attorney
has now prepared the warrants...
that are legally necessary
to evict MOVE members
from their home.
Once those warrants are signed
by a judge,
action by police
to evict MOVE could come
at pretty much any time.
abuse
Louise James
MOVE commission
Was Louise James an informant or was a domestic abuse report used in the decision-making?
Louis James and Laverne Sims provide further testimony, it is also revealed that they were confidential informants. There is a hostility and mistrust of the panel by James and Sims-- in keeping with their radicalisation and ideological positions.
The city's case for eviction was based in part on information from two confidential informants - Louise James and LaVerne Sims
informants
neighbours
Do you know a police officer
by the name of Delores Thompson?
William B. Lytton Do you know, uhm, police officer by the name of Delores Thompson?
Yes, I do.
Louise James Yes, I do.
William B. Lytton Do you recall telling her that your son Frank was ordered to attack you, that you were beaten until you started to vomit violently, that Frank then placed a pillow over your face and asked John Africa if he wanted you to be cycled or killed and that John Africa replied, "Not at this time?"
Do you recall telling her
that your son Frank
was ordered to attack you,
that you were beaten until
you started to vomit violently,
that Frank then placed a pillow
over your face...
and asked John Africa
if he wanted you
to be cycled or killed...
and that John Africa replied,
"Not at this time"?
Did she tell you
that I said that?
Louise James Did she tell you that I said that?
William B. Lytton I have her report of that conversation, Mrs. James.
I have her report of
that conversation, Mrs. James.
Okay.
Louise James Okay. Well, if she-- were you satisfied with what she said?
William B. Lytton I'm asking you.
Well, if she--
Were you satisfied
with what she said?
I'm asking you.
Okay.
Louise James Okay. I heard rumors to the effect that my son had beaten me. I've also heard rumors to the effect that Wilson Goode put his wife's jaw on a pulley, that he beat the hell out of her. Will you ask Mayor Goode that when he comes in here if he in fact beat his wife? And if not, why not? If it is relevant that my son beat me or whether or not he did beat me, then I would say it is just as relevant for you to ask Wilson Goode when he comes in here, "Did he beat his wife?" I don't think you're gonna ask him that. I really don't. But you should, if you feel that it is relevant.
I heard rumors to the effect
that my son had beaten me.
I've also heard rumors
to the effect that Wilson Goode
put his wife's jaw on a pulley,
that he beat
the hell out of her.
Will you ask Mayor Goode
that when he comes in here
if he in fact beat his wife?
And if not, why not?
If it is relevant
that my son beat me or
whether or not he did beat me,
then I would say it is just as
relevant for you to ask Wilson
Goode when he comes in here,
"Did he beat his wife?"
I don't think you're gonna
ask him that.
I really don't. But you should,
if you feel that it is relevant.
abuse
laverne sims
MOVE commission
Laverne Sims Mr. Lytton, I just want to make it clear in my mind so that I understand. Am I to assume that the bomb was dropped on MOVE people because Frank beat his mother?
Mr. Lytton, I just want to
make it clear in my mind
so that I understand.
Am I to assume that the bomb
was dropped on MOVE people...
because Frank beat his mother?
Louise James
abuse
gender
MOVE commission
Ma'am, we're trying
to find out what happened,
William B. Lytton Ma'am, we're trying to find out what happened, and we'll continue asking questions.
Laverne Sims Oh, okay.
- and we'll continue
asking questions.
- [ Sims ] Oh. Okay.
[sil.]
bombing
Ed Rendell
terrorism
D. A. Rendell pursued charges of disorderly conduct, parole violation, criminal conspiracy, and terroristic threats. On May 12, 1985, police began to evacuate Osage Ave. and the surrounding area. LIVE: West Philadelphia
Harvey Clarke Of course, on Mother's Day, the evacuation has been slow. People had plans for today. A few had decided that they'd stay and not evacuate. But police have now apparently, ah, advised those people that they think it's best that they leave.
Of course, on Mother's Day,
the evacuation has been slow.
displacement
evacuation
Police
People had plans for today.
A few had decided that
they'd stay and not evacuate.
But police have now apparently
advised those people that they
think it's best that they leave.
UNKNOWN I hope that it's resolved quickly and, ah, have all confidence that the mayor's going to be doing the right thing.
displacement
Earl Watkins
eviction
I hope that
it's resolved quickly...
Earl Watkins
and have all confidence that
the mayor's going to be
doing the right thing.
I wouldn't mind staying myself,
you see.
Earl Watkins: I wouldn't mind staying myself, you see. But I was told to leave just cuz he don't know what the extent of this is going to be, you know.
Earl Watkins
But I was told to leave...
just 'cause he don't know what
the extent of this is going
to be, you know.
UNKNOWN What do you think?
[ Man ]
What do you think?
I think-- Believe it or not,
I think you'll have to kill
all of them.
Earl Watkins I, I think, believe it or not, I think you'll have to kill all of them.
chopper
neighbour
displacement
evacuation
Home
[ Woman ]
And neighbors
have been told by police...
Casey And neighbors have been told by police not to return to their homes for 24 hours. That's 10 o'clock tomorrow night. Now, what will happen between now and then remains to be seen, Charles.
not to return
to their homes for 24 hours.
That's 10:00 tomorrow night.
Now, what will happen
between now and then
remains to be seen, Charles.
LIVE: West Philadelphia
Charles And, Casey, some of the neighbors, as they were leaving, said to me that as they were going, leaving the neighborhood, the MOVE people were sitting out in front of the MOVE house, the children in hand. Perhaps that was a subtle or not-so-subtle, ah, indication of what's happening here.
And, Casey, some of the
neighbors, as they were
leaving, said to me...
that as they were going,
leaving the neighborhood,
the MOVE people were sitting out
in front of the MOVE house,
Children
confrontation
strategy
the children in hand.
Perhaps that was a subtle
or not-so-subtle indication
of what's happening here.
Children
human shield
MOVE commission
strategy
POLICE COMMISSIONER GREGORE SAMBOR
William B. Lytton Did you consider, sir, that at least in 1978, the members of the MOVE organization who were at the Powelton Village house had used their children, ah, as if they were hostages?
[ Lytton ]
Did you consider, sir,
that at least in 1978,
the members of the
MOVE organization who were at
the Powelton Village house...
had used their children, uh,
as if they were hostages?
Gregore Sambor No, sir, I did not.
No, sir, I did not.
William B. Lytton You've said they came out holding their children up as shields. Ah, I'm not an expert in police science, but I think to the layman, that might suggest that they were using their children as a hostage. That's why I'm asking you why you did not consider that.
[ Lytton ] You've said
they came out holding
their children up as shields.
Uh, I'm not an expert
in police science,
but I think to the layman,
that might suggest that
they were using their children
as a hostage.
That's why I'm asking you
why you did not consider that.
They were using them
simply as a ploy...
Gregore Sambor They were using them simply as a ploy and using that philosophy, that feeling that we had for the sanctity of children and hu-- and, and everyone else, ah, to our disadvantage.
and using that philosophy--
that feeling that we had
for the sanctity of children...
and everyone else--
to our disadvantage.
Tonight LOUISE JAMES
Louise James I do not want to wake up tomorrow morning and find myself short one son because if this thing kicks off, you're going to have bodies strewn every which way. You're going to have children killed, and you're going to have adults killed. I am very much afraid you're going to have blood-soaked streets.
I do not want to wake up
tomorrow morning
and find myself short one son...
Children
Louise James
because if this thing kicks off,
you're going to have bodies
strewn every which way.
You're going to have
children killed, and you're
going to have adults killed.
I am very much afraid
you're going to have
blood-soaked streets.
Ed Rendell Every one of us knew that there was an extraordinarily high likelihood that someone was going to die. We didn't know whether it was going to be a policeman. We didn't know whether it was going to be a fireman. We didn't know whether it was going to be a MOVE member. The worse dread of all was that it was gonna be a child or a neighbor or a bystander. I don't know if anyone on this panel has ever had the responsibility of saying "go" to a plan that you know is gonna cost human lives. Until you've done that, it's very difficult to, to gauge whether the city officials were right or wrong in what they did.
Every one of us knew that
there was an extraordinarily
high likelihood...
Children
Is this an admission by the State that they knew people would die?
MOVE commission
violence
that someone was going to die.
We didn't know whether
it was going to be a policeman.
We didn't know whether
it was going to be a fireman.
We didn't know whether it was
going to be a MOVE member.
The worse dread of all was
that it was going to be a child
or a neighbor or a bystander.
I don't know if anyone
on this panel has ever had
the responsibility...
of saying "go"
to a plan that you know
is going to cost human lives.
Until you've done that,
it's very difficult to gauge...
whether the city officials
were right or wrong
in what they did.
Birdie Africa
Children
confrontation
Michael Ward
Did you all have meetings
where you would discuss
what to do if the police came?
William H. Brown, III Did you all have meetings where you would discuss what to do if the, ah, if the police came?
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm. Not us.
William H. Brown, III Not the children? How about the, ah, adults? How about the grown-ups?
Mm-mmm. Not us.
Not the children?
How about the adults?
How about the grown-ups?
They used to be upstairs
by theirself when
they had their meetings.
Michael Moses Ward They were to be upstairs by their self when they had their meetings.
William H. Brown, III When they had their meetings? How often would they have their meetings?
When they had their meetings?
How often
would they have their meetings?
Michael Moses Ward A lot of times.
William H. Brown, III A lot of times? Did you ever sit in on-- were you ever in any of their meetings? Do you ever know what went on in those meetings? What is a confrontation? Do you know?
A lot of times.
A lot of times?
Did you ever sit in on--
Were you ever
in any of their meetings?
Do you ever know what
went on in those meetings?
Mm-mmm.
What is a confrontation?
Do you know?
Michael Moses Ward Like it was.
William H. Brown, III But what happens when you have a confrontation?
Like it was.
But what happens
when you have a confrontation?
Michael Moses Ward When the cops come and stuff.
When the cops come and stuff.
[music]
4. "It's like another - another Vietnam out here." - Harvey Clark, WCAU May 13, 1985 - 3:30 A.M.
Police
weapons
MOVE commission
Police
weapons
Reverend Paul Washington What did you believe they might have had by way of firearms in that house?
What did you believe
they might have had by way
of firearms in that house?
WILLIAM STEWART PHILADELPHIA POLICE
William Stewart We were led to believe that they had automatic firearms. Shotguns. I guess just as well as equipped as we were.
We were led to believe that
they had automatic firearms.
Shotguns.
I guess just as well
as equipped as we were.
Mm-hmm.
Reverend Paul Washington Uh-hmm. And so based on what you believed they had, then you went prepared to match?
And so based on
what you believed they had,
then you went prepared to match?
William Stewart To match or better than.
- To match or better than.
- Or to have superior?
Reverend Paul Washington Or to have superior?
William Stewart That's correct, sir.
That's correct, sir.
Fire
media
staging
Dennis Woltering We interrupt regular programming for this special report. I'm Dennis Woltering with Harvey Clarke at 62nd and Vine, where authorities continue preparations for, ah, an apparent confrontation with the radical group, MOVE. Let me tell you what's happened so far this morning. About 2 hours ago, about 3:30 a.m., utility crews moved into the area, shut off gas and electricity. SWAT teams have been converging on the area. You can see a fire truck behind me with a deluge gun pointed back that way. It's aimed, apparently, at the MOVE house. It looks like the scene is set.
[ Man ]
We interrupt regular programming
for this special report.
I'm Dennis Woltering
with Harvey Clarke
at 62nd and Vine...
where authorities
continue preparations...
for an apparent confrontation
with the radical group, MOVE.
Let me tell you what's happened
so far this morning.
About two hours ago,
about 3:30 a.m.,
utility crews
moved into the area,
shut off gas and electricity.
SWAT teams have been
converging on the area.
You can see a fire truck
behind me with a deluge gun
pointed back that way.
It's aimed, apparently,
at the MOVE house.
It looks like the scene is set.
America
loudspeaker
Police
Police Commissioner Sambor had prepared an announcement for the people inside the house. It began, "Attention, MOVE, this is America."
[ Sambor ]
I got on my stomach,
Gregore Sambor I got on my stomach, and with the bullhorn, I read the message. And to be quite frank, I was sweating it out.
loudspeaker
MOVE commission
sambor
and with the bullhorn,
I read the message.
And to be quite frank,
I was sweating it out.
[ Brown ]
What did Commissioner Sambor
say, do you know?
Birdie Africa
Children
confrontation
Michael Ward
William H. Brown, III What did Commissioner Sambor say, do you know?
Michael Moses Ward He was telling them to come out.
He was telling them to come out.
Did you hear him saying that?
William H. Brown, III Did you hear him saying that?
UNKNOWN You've been persecuting this family for 17 goddamn years. You've been locking us up when you know we ain't guilty. Let our people go. Y'all gonna let our people go.
loudspeaker
prison
protest
strategy
UNKNOWN What was the response of the MOVE organization when you read the arrest warrant that they vacate the premises?
confrontation
loudspeaker
strategy
[ Man ]
What was the response
of the MOVE organization...
Police
strategy
MOVE commission
when you read the arrest warrant
that they vacate the premises?
POLICE COMMISSIONER GREGORE SAMBOR
Gregore Sambor That they would not surrender.
That they would not surrender.
- Can you tell us
what else they said?
- That they would kill us all.
Gregore Sambor That they would kill us all.
UNKNOWN Can you tell us what else they said?
UNKNOWN And what else did they say?
And what else did they say?
Uh, they said that, uh--
Gregore Sambor Ah, they said that, ah, that all of our wives would be widows.
that all of our wives
would be widows.
UNKNOWN And what else did they say about your wives?
And what else did they say
about your wives?
Gregore Sambor They said that our wives would be sleeping with other men before the end of the day.
They said that our wives
would be sleeping with other men
before the end of the day.
UNKNOWN Did they describe what other kind of men?
Did they describe
what other kind of men?
Yes, sir.
Would you tell us?
Gregore Sambor Yes, sir.
UNKNOWN Would you tell us?
Gregore Sambor They said that our wives would be sleeping with, ah, with Black men before the end of the day.
They said that our wives
would be sleeping with black men
before the end of the day.
UNKNOWN Do you recall what your reaction was to those statements?
Do you recall
what your reaction
was to those statements?
I accepted it, sir,
as some of their rhetoric...
Gregore Sambor I accepted it, sir, as some of their rhetoric and attempts to incite the police and myself to precipitous action.
and attempts
to incite the police and myself
to precipitous action.
[music]
Fire
Police
water cannon
media
Police
strategy
tear gas
Harvey Clarke The police went in about 5 minutes to 6. Just 4 minutes ago, they pumped tear gas in which is in the area. The police, ah, ah, began deluge, which you can see here. That water's actually being pumped in about, ah, probably, 50 yards into the MOVE compound.
The police went in
about five minutes to 6:00.
Just four minutes ago,
they pumped tear gas in...
which is in the area.
The police began a deluge,
which you can see here.
That water's actually
being pumped in...
about, probably, 50 yards
into the MOVE compound.
As you can see up the street,
Tom, if you just pan up there,
UNKNOWN As you can see up the street, Tom, if you just pan up there, it's a, it's a, a very surreal kind of scene. Very calm men standing around as the cloud of tear gas, the haze, kind of begins to lift. Here comes some more tear gas down Addison Street. This apparently has expanded, ah, into-- to include the entire square block. Perhaps when the cloud clears, we'll know a little bit more.
it's a very surreal
kind of scene.
Very calm men standing around...
as the cloud of tear gas,
the haze,
kind of begins to lift.
Here comes some more tear gas
down Addison Street.
This apparently has expanded...
to include the entire
square block.
Perhaps when the cloud clears,
we'll know a little bit more.
William Lytton What was the plan for May 13th, 1985?
What was the plan
for May 13, 1985?
Police
MOVE commission
Police
strategy
SGT. ALBERT REVEL PHILADELPHIA POLICE LIVE: West Philadelphia
Sgt. Albert Revel The tactical plan, as, as I understood it, was to remove the MOVE people, all the people from the house safely. That, that was the objective. It was to be done by causing a diversion on the roof, inserting the insertion teams on either side of the properties, and by then inducing an amount of C.S. gas in a sufficient concentration to make those people come out of the house.
The tactical plan,
as I understood it,
was to remove the MOVE people--
all the people--
from the house safely.
That was the objective.
It was to be done by causing
a diversion on the roof,
inserting the insertion teams
on either side
of the properties...
and by then inducing
an amount of C.S. gas...
in a sufficient concentration...
to make those people
come out of the house.
The police presence here is
not like it was the last time.
1978 shoot-out
media
Police
Harvey Clarke The police presence here is not like it was the last, ah, time. This is being handled almost entirely by the stakeout unit. There may have just been a gunshot. The gunshots are starting right now. It sounds like automatic fire, Steve. There's quite a bit of it. We can't tell, Steve, at this point, exactly where the gunfire is coming from. Okay, Steve, at this point, ah, we're being forced to leave our position.
This is being handled almost
entirely by the stakeout unit.
media
- [ Gunshot ]
- There may have
just been a gunshot.
The gunshots are starting
right now.
- [ Gunfire ]
- It sounds like automatic fire.
There's quite a bit of it.
We can't tell, Steve,
at this point exactly where
the gunfire is coming from.
[ Men Chattering ]
Okay. Steve,
at this point we're being forced
to leave our position.
We'll get back to you
as soon as we can.
Let's go.
Harvey Clarke Ah, We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
Steve All right Harvey.
Steve The police are now moving Harvey Clarke in...
UNKNOWN Let's go.
William B. Lytton Who shot first?
The police
are now moving Harvey Clarke.
- [ Lytton ]
Who shot first?
- They did.
weapons
Gregore Sambor They did.
POLICE COMMISSIONER GREGORE SAMBOR
William B. Lytton How do you know?
Gregore Sambor Because I was there.
How do you know?
Because I was there.
I understand that.
Did you see muzzle fire?
William B. Lytton I understand that. Did you see muzzle fire? I'm just trying to determine how you have that knowledge.
Gregore Sambor No, sir, I did not. But one of the other teams reported that they were receiving hostile fire.
I'm just trying to determine
how you have that knowledge.
No, sir, I did not.
But one of the other teams
reported that they were
receiving hostile fire.
William B. Lytton Did it sound like automatic fire to you?
Gregore Sambor It did. Yes, sir.
- Did it sound like
automatic fire to you?
- It did. Yes, sir.
And I take it you're familiar
with the sound of
automatic weapons fire.
William B. Lytton And I take it you're familiar with the sound of automatic weapons fire.
Gregore Sambor I've heard automatic. Yes, sir.
I've heard automatic--
Yes, sir.
media
weapons
UNKNOWN Ah, Pat, as you can see, we have reestablished our live signal. Tremendous bursts of gunfire, ah, have rang out in the area of the 6200 block of Osage Avenue. Walt Hunter has joined me. And, Walter, what have you learned?
Pat, as you can see, we have
reestablished our live signal.
Tremendous bursts of gunfire
have rang out...
in the area of
the 6200 block of Osage Avenue.
Walt Hunter We have heard several popping sounds here, indicating that gunfire is getting much, much closer. But we don't know if the guns you're hearing are police guns, MOVE guns or other guns. About the only thing we can confirm for you at this point is that clearly, based on the nature of the shoot-out we're seeing here this morning, MOVE did have some weaponry either in the house or nearby.
Walt Hunter has joined me.
And, Walter,
what have you learned?
We have heard
several popping sounds here...
indicating that gunfire
is getting much, much closer.
But we don't know if the guns
you're hearing are police guns,
MOVE guns or other guns.
About the only thing
we can confirm for you
at this point...
is that clearly, based on
the nature of the shoot-out
we're seeing here this morning,
MOVE did have some weaponry
either in the house or nearby.
weapons
Police later recovered four guns from the debris of the MOVE house. None were capable of automatic fire.
William B. Lytton As you know, Commissioner, there were no automatic weapons found in the MOVE house. Do you know whether or not the automatic weapons fire you heard was in fact from police officers?
Children
Police
staging
weapons
[ Lytton ]
As you know, Commissioner,
there were no automatic weapons
found in the MOVE house.
Do you know whether or not
the automatic weapons fire
you heard...
was in fact
from police officers?
The firing,
as initiated by MOVE,
Gregore Sambor The firing, as initiated by MOVE, ah, was, apparently automatic fire, and I cannot explain it. But I do not and-- believe for 1 minute that it was the police that were firing at that time.
uh, was...
apparently automatic fire,
and I cannot explain it.
But I do not believe
for one minute...
that it was the police
that were firing at that time.
Ed Rendell Once the MOVE members started firing, ah, their status changed radically in the eyes of the law. They at that point became forcible felons, and there's a whole different set of laws as to the apprehension and, and the amount of force that can be used in the apprehension of and the prevention of the escape of, ah, forcible felons.
Once the MOVE members
started firing,
their status changed radically
in the eyes of the law.
They at that point
became forcible felons,
and there's a whole
different set of laws...
as to the apprehension
and the amount of force
that can be used...
in the apprehension of
and the prevention of
the escape of forcible felons.
- Including the children?
- No.
William H. Brown, III Including the children?
Ed Rendell No. That's as to the adults.
That's as to the adults.
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
Michael Moses Ward We went downstairs.
William H. Brown, III Did the adults tell you to go downstairs? And where did you go when you went downstairs?
We went downstairs.
[ Brown ]
Did the adults tell you
to go downstairs?
Michael Moses Ward The garage.
And where did you go
when you went downstairs?
The garage.
Into the garage?
William H. Brown, III Into the garage? But where were the men?
Michael Moses Ward They were upstairs.
- But where were the men?
- They were upstairs.
Do you know
what they were doing?
William H. Brown, III Do you know what they were doing?
Children
Three women, four men, and six children were in the house during the raid
UNKNOWN Now, we know that the children wasn't doing any shooting. Did you feel that their rights...
[ Woman ]
Now, we know that the children
wasn't doing any shooting.
Children
MOVE commission
Do you feel that their rights--
I did not know that the children
were not shooting.
Gregore Sambor I did not know that the children were not shooting.
UNKNOWN What-- would you say that if we had children in there 4, 5, 6 years old that they would have been using, ah, any type of weapons?
What-- Would you say
that if we had children in there
four, five, six years old...
that they would have been using
any type of weapons?
To my knowledge,
there was only one that young.
Gregore Sambor To my knowledge, there was only one that young.
Walt Hunter We would like to tell you that the shoot-out is over. We cannot say that definitively. We can say there's been at least a 15 or 20-minute break in the gunfights. Here comes a police car racing in right now at this moment. This is a highway patrol car racing into the scene. We don't know what this signifies. We'd like to tell you it's over. We really can't right now. There has been a pause. There are indications that what has been a tremendous gunfight is over. Looking in the trunk of this car right here. There's more gunfire right now. We're gonna crouch down.
We would like to tell you
that the shoot-out is over.
We cannot say that definitively.
media
media
Police
weapons
We can say there's been at least
a 15- or 20-minute break
in the gunfights.
Here comes a police car
racing in right now
at this moment.
This is a highway patrol car
racing into the scene.
We don't know
what this signifies.
We'd like to tell you it's over.
We really can't right now.
There has been a pause.
There are indications
that what has been
a tremendous gunfight is over.
Looking in the trunk of this car
right here--
[ Gunfire ]
There's more gunfire right now.
We're gonna crouch down.
UNKNOWN Look, as you were about to say, the police are unloading as you can see right now. The police are unloading Winchester cartridge shells from the back of a highway patrol car.
As you were about to say,
the police are unloading,
as you can see right now.
The police are unloading
Winchester cartridge shells...
from the back
of a highway patrol car.
William B. Lytton Do you know how many rounds were fired that day?
Do you know how many rounds
were fired that day?
confrontation
MOVE commission
Police
Gregore Sambor No, sir. But I will say that, ah, ah, we ran out. Ah, we did not anticipate, ah, the, ah, extent of the confrontation, ah, and ran out. Ah, I don't know what time it was, but it was some time in the morning.
[ Sambor ]
No, sir.
But I will say that, uh--
uh, we ran out.
Uh, we did not anticipate,
uh, the extent
of the confrontation,
uh, and ran out.
Uh, I don't know
what time it was, but it was
some time in the morning.
Children
Novella Williams
UNKNOWN What's happening is, it's a shoot-out. Oh, man, and those kids and all that-- what...
What's happening is,
it's a shoot-out.
- Oh, man,
and those kids and all that--
- [ Gunshots ]
In this scene a bass line made with a string, possible a guitar or a bass guitar, continues to strum along. Adding a heightened tension to the sequence. The sequence is also heavily altered with the presense of gunfire that plays consitently in the background despite the cutting of footage and the distance the camera crew is to the 'action'. The gun fire is too precise in its audio levels and tonality to be 'real' gun fire as indexed by the footage of the time. The elements of the music and the gun fire is used in the diegesis of the film to produce tension.
media
This is funny news commentary
[music]
UNKNOWN The gunfire is as close as it's been, ah, since the, ah, shoot-out happened this morning. Let's, let's come closer. Let's come closer and use, ah, and crouch down behind the Eyewitness News truck.
The gunfire is as close
as it's been since the shoot-out
happened this morning.
Let's-- Let's come closer.
Let's come closer and use--
and crouch down behind
the Eyewitness News truck.
media
staging
UNKNOWN Oh, my God!
[ Woman ]
Oh, my God!
[music]
[ Man ]
Get down, lady. Get down. Yeah.
UNKNOWN Get down, lady. Get down. Yeah.
[ Gunfire Continues ]
[music]
Police used ten thousand rounds of ammunition on May 13.
[ Man ]
Stay in the house.
Stay inside.
UNKNOWN I heard shots being fired, and cops was in the alleyway. They was like, "Get in the house. Don't come out." I was very, very frightened.
I heard shots being fired,
and cops was in the alleyway.
They was like,
"Get in the house.
Don't come out."
I was very, very frightened.
UNKNOWN You're supposed to nip something in the bud. If you see something's coming, you're supposed to sit down and try to iron it out before something like this comes to this stage.
You supposed
to nip something in the bud.
If you see something's coming,
you're supposed to sit down
and try to iron it out...
UNKNOWN It's war. This is war. I've never seen it, but I've lived through it today.
before something like this
comes to this stage.
It's war. This is war.
I've never seen it,
but I've lived through it today.
[sil.]
Footage of Louise James on the scene of the confrontation, distraught.
gender
"Hysterical"
Louise James
[music]
Harvey Clarke This woman we can't determine whether she is a relative, ah, of one of the MOVE members or not. It appeared that things had gotten calm. And then as you heard, about a minute and a half ago, another burst of gunfire.
[ Harvey ]
This woman--
We can't determine...
whether she is a relative of one
of the MOVE members or not.
It appeared that things
had gotten calm.
And then as you heard,
about a minute and a half ago,
another burst of gunfire.
Walt Hunter This woman is now being taken into police custody. You're watching it live. They are restraining her. She is hysterical and is clearly upset about what's going on in there. Just trying to get her out of the danger area where we are on the fringes right now.
[ Walt ]
This woman is now being taken
into police custody.
You're watching it live.
They are restraining her.
She is hysterical
and is clearly upset about
what's going on in there.
Just trying to get her
out of the danger area where
we are on the fringes right now.
[ Lytton ]
Did you have a concern...
Louis gives further testimony in a another hearing.
Louise James
MOVE commission
William B. Lytton Did you have a concern that the people inside of that house might be in physical danger or that their lives might be in danger?
that the people
inside of that house...
might be in physical danger
or that their lives
might be in danger?
LOUISE JAMES FORMER MOVE MEMBER
Concern?
We knew it.
Louise James Concern? We knew it.
William B. Lytton Miss...
Louise James We, we-- excuse me. We had-- you had 200 boot-kicking, Gestapo-oriented cops out there that day. You had, that day, ah, a police officer by the name of Mulvihill who was in the 1978, ah, tragedy, who was, in fact, one of the officers who stomped and kicked and beat and bludgeoned and shot and helmeted and kicked some more my brother, Delbert Africa.
Miss--
We-- Excuse me.
We had--
You had 200 boot-kicking,
Gestapo-oriented cops
out there that day.
1978 shoot-out
Delbert Africa
Louise James
MOVE commission
You had, that day,
a police officer
by the name of Mulvihill...
who was in the 1978,
uh, tragedy...
who was, in fact,
one of the officers
who stomped and kicked...
and beat and bludgeoned...
and shot and helmeted
and kicked some more...
my brother, Delbert Africa.
So as I understand
your testimony,
Louise James
MOVE commission
rehearsal
staging
strategy
William B. Lytton So as I understand your testimony, you were concerned that there may be physical harm to the people inside that house, is that correct?
you were concerned
that there may be
physical harm...
to the people inside that house,
is that correct?
Louise James Would you turn up your hearing aid, please?
William B. Lytton I can hear you fine, Mrs. James. My question is...
Would you turn up
your hearing aid, please?
I can hear you fine, Mrs. James.
My question is--
Well, then
if you can hear me fine,
Louise James Well, then if you can hear me fine, if you don't have a hearing aid, I suggest you get one.
if you don't have a hearing aid,
I suggest you get one.
Well, because--
Excuse me!
Louise James Excuse me!
William B. Lytton Well, because ...
William B. Lytton Yes, ma'am.
Louise James To ask me am-- "were, were we concerned" is complete insanity!
Yes, ma'am.
To ask me...
"were we concerned"
is complete insanity.
bunker
House
MOVE commission
water cannon
[music]
[ Sambor ]
By virtue of the fact that MOVE
had construction on the roof...
Gregore Sambor By virtue of the fact that MOVE had construction on the roof that was commonly referred to as the bunker, that gave them complete command of the Osage Avenue, access over the roofs, they were in an enviable tactical position.
that was commonly
referred to as the bunker,
that gave them complete command
of the Osage Avenue,
access over the roofs--
they were in
an enviable tactical position.
UNKNOWN The water cannon used during the MOVE standoff today shoots an estimated 1,000 gallons of water a minute. Sources say the purpose of the water is threefold, first, to disorient the people inside the house. Secondly, the water increases humidity which makes tear gas more effective. Thirdly, the powerful water pressure could cause the house to collapse.
Police
strategy
tear gas
water cannon
[ Man ]
The water cannon used during
the MOVE standoff today...
shoots an estimated
1,000 gallons of water a minute.
Sources say the purpose
of the water is threefold--
First, to disorient
the people inside the house.
Secondly, the water
increases humidity, which makes
tear gas more effective.
Thirdly, the powerful
water pressure could
cause the house to collapse.
FIRE COMMISSIONER WILLIAM RICHMOND
William Richmond If that plan relied solely on the ability of our, of our, ah, equipment to knock the bunker off, they knew very clearly up front that we weren't-- we, we could not guarantee that, sir.
If that plan relied solely
on the ability of our equipment
to knock the bunker off,
bunker
MOVE commission
Police
strategy
they knew very clearly up front
that we could not guarantee
that, sir.
[music]
4:06 PM VERNON ODOM LIVE
Chris, I saw Police Commissioner
Gregore Sambor about
45 minutes ago,
Vernon Odom Chris, I saw Police Commissioner Gregore Sambor about 45 minutes ago, and he described his men as, quote, "taking a break now." They're obviously somewhat startled by the way that MOVE's, ah, building at 62 and Osage was fortified and able to take the water barrage and the bullets that, ah, flew in there this morning. Thousands of rounds spun off.
and he described his men
as, quote, "taking a break now."
They're obviously
somewhat startled...
by the way that MOVE's building
at 62 and Osage was fortified...
and able to take the
water barrage and the bullets
that flew in there this morning.
LIVE: West Philadelphia WCAU Remote Camera
Thousands of rounds spun off.
[ Harvey ] Larry,
for the first time, it's been
quiet for several hours here.
Harvey Clarke Larry, for the first time, it's been quiet for several hours here. The police helicopter did go back up, and I guess they wanted to take a look at the top of the bunker. We had reports, what you see in front there, the yellow tarp is the front of that building, and we were told that that bunker was destroyed. But it appears that it's, ah, it's still there.
The police helicopter
did go back up,
and I guess
they wanted to take a look
at the top of the bunker.
We had reports-- What you see
in front there, the yellow tarp
is the front of that building,
and we were told that
that bunker was destroyed.
But it appears
that it's still there.
Okay, Harvey. They stopped
the snorkel gun now.
Larry Okay, Harvey. They stopped the, ah, the snorkel gun now. There's no water on that roof.
There's no water on that roof.
For some time,
the water has been turned off.
Harvey Clarke Ah, for some time the, ah, water has, ah, been turned off.
UNKNOWN At City Hall this afternoon, Mayor Goode appeared publicly for the first time since the siege began. Goode said he's committed to removing MOVE from the structure.
[ Man ]
At City Hall this afternoon,
Mayor Goode appeared
publicly for the first time
since the siege began.
Goode said he's committed
to removing MOVE
from the structure.
We intend
to evict from the house.
LIVE: City Hall
Wilson Goode We intend to evict from the house. We intend to evacuate from the house, and we intend to seize control of the house.
We intend to evacuate
from the house, and we intend
to seize control of the house.
UNKNOWN How will do you that?
Wilson Goode Ah, we will, we will do it by any means necessary.
[ Woman ] How will you do that?
We will do it
by any means necessary.
media
Police
water cannon
[music]
6 LIVE CHRIS WAGNER
[ Woman ]
Something is starting to happen.
Chris Wagner Something is starting to happen. There is a big-- the, the fire engine has fired up again. Its engine is on for the first time all afternoon. We just saw some police officers behind us have their hands over their ears. We don't know why. We can't hear anything at this point. I must say that this tiny little flurry activity is really the first bit of activity that there's been here all afternoon. It's been very quiet. Police say that they have a plan. They say it will be implemented shortly. We will tell you what it is when it happens. Reporting live from 62nd and Delancey, this is Chris Wagner, Channel 6 Action News.
There is a big--
The fire engine
has fired up again.
Its engine is on for
the first time all afternoon.
We just saw some
police officers behind us have
their hands over their ears.
We don't know why.
We can't hear anything
at this point.
I must say that this tiny
little flurry of activity...
is really the first bit
of activity that there's been
here all afternoon.
It's been very quiet.
Police say that they have
a plan. They say it will
be implemented shortly.
We will tell you what it is
when it happens.
Reporting live from 62nd and
Delancey, this is Chris Wagner,
Channel 6 Action News.
bombing
Police
About 5 p.m., a member of the police bomb squad suggested using the helicopter to drop an explosive onto MOVE's roof.
UNKNOWN This device that was used, ah, you're calling it a device. I'm calling it a bomb. But did it ever occur to you that this might have been a dangerous device to use in a residential neighborhood?
[ Woman ]
This device that was used--
You're calling it a device.
bomb
Fire
mayor goode
MOVE commission
I'm calling it a bomb.
But did it ever occur to you...
that this might have
been a dangerous device to use
in a residential neighborhood?
Yes, ma'am.
Gregore Sambor Yes, ma'am.
UNKNOWN It did occur to you?
Gregore Sambor Yes, ma'am.
It did occur to you?
Yes, ma'am.
UNKNOWN Uh-hmm.
William B. Lytton By not vetoing it, did you approve the plan to use an explosive on the roof?
[ Lytton ]
By not vetoing it,
did you approve the plan
to use an explosive on the roof?
MAYOR WILSON GOODE
Wilson Goode I think that, ah, I was fully aware that it, that it would, in fact, be used, and it is my view, ah, that you can regard that as an approval of using the explosive on the roof, yes.
I think that I was fully aware
that it would, in fact, be used,
and it is my view
that you can regard that...
as an approval of using
the explosive on the roof, yes.
[music]
LIVE: West Philadelphia TROOPER RICHARD REED HELICOPTER PILOT
bombing
MOVE commission
Richard Reed I came in at an angle about like this, and I put the helicopter...
...right there in a 10-15 foot
hover above the roof.
Richard Reed Right there in a 10-15 foot hover above the roof. And I was right on the left-hand side of the helicopter right here. Onto this corner is where I finally came to, ah, a stop.
And I was right on the left-hand
side of the helicopter
right here.
Onto this corner is where
I finally came to a stop.
bombing
Police
[music]
Police loaded a satchel with four pounds of Tovex and C-4 plastic explosive on a forty-five second fuse.
William H. Brown, III You were down in the, in the garage, is that right?
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
[ Brown ]
You were down in the garage,
is that right?
We was down there for a while,
and then everybody came down.
Michael Moses Ward We was down there for a while, and then everybody came down.
William H. Brown, III All the men came down?
- All the men came down?
- That's when
the big bomb went off.
Michael Moses Ward That's when the big bomb went off.
bombing
[sil.]
Birdie Africa
bombing
Children
Michael Ward
It shook the whole house up.
Michael Moses Ward It shook the whole house up.
6 CHRIS WAGNER LIVE ACTION CAM LIVE ACTION CAM
[ Explosion ]
Chris Wagner Police say there has just been a huge explosion here. We don't know what it means, but it just shook the whole place. Debris flew all over the place. I don't know what that explosion was. All I can tell you is that it was a huge blast.
[ Chris ]
Police say there has just been
a huge explosion here.
We don't know what it means,
but it just shook
the whole place.
Debris flew all over the place.
I don't know what
that explosion was.
All I can tell you
is that it was a huge blast.
Harvey Clarke Get a shot with me. Get a sh...
[ Harvey ]
Get a shot with me.
Get a sh--
Harvey, can you hear us?
At this point, I really
can't tell you very much.
Larry Harvey, can you hear us?
Harvey Clarke At this point, I really can't tell you very much. There was about a 15-second delay, then an explosion.
There was about
a 15-second delay,
then an explosion.
Walt Hunter Perhaps the most frightening thing here is that police do say that six to eight children are believed to be inside the MOVE house.
[ Walt ] Perhaps
the most frightening thing here
is that police do say...
bombing
Children
that six to eight children
are believed to be
inside the MOVE house.
6 LIVE ACTION CAM
Chris Wagner As soon as we find out what the explosion is, we will try to tell you. At this point, I simply do not know.
As soon as we find out
what the explosion is,
we will try to tell you.
At this point,
I simply do not know.
William B. Lytton After the explosion, you saw that the bunker was still there.
bombing
Fire
MOVE commission
[ Lytton ] After the explosion,
you saw that the bunker
was still there.
Yes, sir.
Gregore Sambor Yes, sir.
William B. Lytton Did you observe any smoke or fire on the roof?
- Did you observe any smoke
or fire on the roof?
- I did not.
Gregore Sambor I did not.
William B. Lytton And...
Gregore Sambor I did hear over the radio that there was none.
And--
I did hear over the radio
that there was none.
Two minutes after the bomb 5. "There was a decision to let the fire burn." - Mayor Wilson Goode FIRE COMMISSIONER WILLIAM RICHMOND
Fire
let the fire burn
mayor goode
It's easy to equate explosions
and explosive materials
with fire.
bombing
Fire
MOVE commission
William Richmond It's easy to equate explosions and explosive materials with fire. But that's not necessarily so good, I think we've all seen buildings demolished, and, and it's used all the time in mining. So I, I, I don't think you can just logically conclude if you're going to have an explosion, you're going to have a fire.
But that's not necessarily so.
'Cause I think we've
all seen buildings demolished,
and it's used
all the time in mining.
So I don't think you
can just logically conclude...
if you're going to
have an explosion,
you're going to have a fire.
LIVE: West Philadelphia
Harvey Clarke There's no more smoke. And at this point, looking over my shoulder, the water barrage appears to have ended again.
There's no more smoke.
And at this point,
looking over my shoulder,
Fire
the water barrage appears
to have ended again.
[music]
Fives minutes after the bomb WCAU-TV Fifteen minutes after the bomb
Larry Okay, there is a new development at the MOVE building, 62nd and Osage. We'll go live right away to Harvey Clarke at the scene. What's going on, Harvey?
Okay, there is a new development
at the MOVE building,
62nd and Osage.
We'll go live right away
to Harvey Clarke at the scene.
What's going on, Harvey?
Larry, behind me you can
probably see right now--
LIVE: West Philadelphia
Harvey Clarke Larry, behind me you can probably see right now, we'll push and try to get a little tighter shot of it that the, ah, satchel charge, or whatever the, the explosive or bomb that was dropped on the MOVE compound just a few minutes ago, has apparently started a serious fire. But the two deluge guns or sprinklers, ah, that they've been pumping water in from Pine Street are not active now.
We'll push and try to get
a little tighter shot of it--
that the satchel charge,
or whatever--
the explosive or bomb...
that was dropped
on the MOVE compound
just a few minutes ago...
has apparently started
a serious fire.
But the two deluge guns
or sprinklers...
that they've been pumping water
in from Pine Street
are not active now.
POLICE COMMISSIONER GREGORE SAMBOR
Gregore Sambor I wanted to get the bunker. I wanted to be able to somehow have tactical superiority without sacrificing any lives, if it were at all possible.
I wanted to get the bunker.
bunker
MOVE commission
Police
strategy
I wanted to be able to somehow
have tactical superiority...
without sacrificing any lives,
if it were at all possible.
FIRE COMMISSIOBER WILLIAM RICHMOND
Fire
let the fire burn
Police
strategy
This type of collaboration of police and fire marshall was observed at the UPenn Palestine Solidarity encampment in Spring 2024
Commissioner Sambor said to me--
William Richmond Commissioner Sambor said to me-- he said, "Let's let the bunker burn to eliminate that high ground advantage and the tactical advantage of the bunker." And I said, "Yeah, okay."
He said
let's let the bunker burn...
to eliminate that high ground
advantage and the tactical
advantage of the bunker.
And I said, "Yeah, okay."
[ Sambor ]
It was not an order.
Gregore Sambor It was not an order. In, in essence, in communication, I communicated to him that I would like to let the fire burn.
In essence, in communication--
I communicated to him that
I would like to
let the fire burn.
[music]
25 minutes after the bomb WCAU-TV
displacement
Fire
Home
Dennis Woltering Larry, this is becoming a very emotional scene. With me is Janice Walker. She lives at 6217 Osage, just two doors from the, ah, MOVE house.
Larry, this is becoming
a very emotional scene.
With me is Janice Walker.
She lives at 6217 Osage,
just two doors
from the MOVE house.
Yes.
Janice Walker Yes.
Dennis Woltering And you're afraid that your house may be on fire.
And you're afraid
that your house may be on fire.
I'm sure it's just destroyed,
and it's just not fair.
Janice Walker
Janice Walker I'm sure it's just destroyed, and it's just not fair. We've been there over 20 years, and we didn't have to have to go through this.
We've been there over 20 years,
and we didn't have to have
to go through this.
LIVE: West Philadelphia
UNKNOWN We only left with a few odds and ends, you know, for the night. We had no idea it was gonna be this devastating.
[ Man ] We only left
with a few odds and ends,
you know, for the night.
We had no idea it was
gonna be this devastating.
UNKNOWN You've got innocent people that live around there on Osage Avenue, and they just, you know, I mean, their, their properties have just gone up in smoke.
You've got innocent people
that live around there
on Osage Avenue,
and they just, you know--
Their properties have just
gone up in smoke.
Mayor Goode was watching on TV from his office in City Hall. MAYOR WILSON GOODE
Fire
fire commissioner
let the fire burn
mayor goode
Wilson Goode I saw initially a small fire on the roof. Ah, I saw, ah, what appeared to be, ah, ah, as some water coming in. I determined later that, that was not water at all, but, ah, was basically the kind of snow on my television screen. Ah, and after about 5 minutes of watching that, I gave, ah, what was my first order of the day which was put the fire out.
I saw initially
a small fire on the roof.
I saw what appeared...
to be some water coming in.
I determined later that
that was not water at all...
but was basically
the kind of snow
on my television screen.
And after about five minutes
of watching that,
I gave what was
my first order of the day,
which was "put the fire out."
FIRE COMMISSIOBER WILLIAM RICHMOND
Justice Bruce Kaufmann You are aware that the mayor has testified that at approximately 6 o'clock on the evening of May 13th, he ordered that the fire be put out.
You are aware that
the mayor has testified...
that at approximately 6:00
on the evening of May 13,
he ordered
that the fire be put out.
I heard the testimony, yes, sir.
William Richmond I, I heard the testimony, yes, sir.
POLICE COMMISSIONER GREGORE SAMBOR
William B. Lytton Do you know whether or not there had been any order to put the fire out?
Do you know whether or not...
there had been any order
to put the fire out?
Gregore Sambor Yes, sir.
William B. Lytton Did you convey that order to anyone else?
Yes, sir.
Did you convey that order
to anyone else?
Yes, sir.
Gregore Sambor Yes, sir.
William B. Lytton To whom?
Gregore Sambor The fire commissioner was still there.
- To whom?
- The fire commissioner
was still there.
William B. Lytton Question, to whom? Answer, the fire commissioner was still there.
Question: To whom?
Answer:
The fire commissioner
was still there.
William Richmond Those responses were, were Commissioner Sambor, sir?
Those responses were
Commissioner Sambor, sir?
Yes, sir.
William B. Lytton Yes, sir.
William Richmond I categorically deny that. I had no knowledge of an order to extinguish that fire.
I categorically deny that.
I had no knowledge of an order
to extinguish that fire.
[music]
Fire
House
Police
strategy
terror
[sil.]
Stakeout Squad Video
UNKNOWN They won't call the police commissioner a motherfucker anymore.
UNKNOWN Why didn't you fucking blow them out of there, Bill?
UNKNOWN I'm hearing something.
UNKNOWN That's water. They're hitting 17 and 19.
UNKNOWN Yeah, they're trying to keep the fire contained to the MOVE house.
UNKNOWN Yeah.
William H. Brown, III Was there any smoke or tear gas in the garage when you were down there? Or was there tear gas?
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
[ Brown ] Was there any smoke
or tear gas in the garage
when you were down there?
Michael Moses Ward It was smoke and tear gas.
William H. Brown, III Smoke and tear gas? Did it, did it bother you? Did it burn your eyes or anything?
Or was there tear gas?
It was smoke and tear gas.
Smoke and tear gas?
Did it bother you? Did it
burn your eyes or anything?
Mm-hmm.
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm.
And what did you all do?
Michael Moses Ward We was under the blanket with our heads.
William H. Brown, III And what did you all do?
William H. Brown, III Were all the kids under blankets?
We was under the blanket
with our heads.
Were all the kids
under blankets?
Mm-hmm.
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm.
Michael Moses Ward Under blankets.
William H. Brown, III Where were the women?
William H. Brown, III They were under blankets? Now, you said the blankets were wet.
Where were the women?
Under blankets.
They were under blankets?
Now, you said the blankets
were wet.
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm.
William H. Brown, III How did the blankets get wet?
Mm-hmm.
How did the blankets
get wet?
'Cause we had 'em in the bucket.
Michael Moses Ward Cuz they have-- we had 'em in the bucket. Bucket of water.
Bucket of water.
Justice Bruce Kaufmann Isn't it true, Commissioner Sambor and Fire Commissioner Richmond, that you in effect made a decision to use fire as a weapon in this instance?
Fire
MOVE commission
Police
strategy
weapons
Isn't it true,
Commissioner Sambor
and Fire Commissioner Richmond,
that you in effect
made a decision to use fire
as a weapon in this instance?
Gregore Sambor Absolutely not, sir.
Absolutely not, sir.
Justice Bruce Kaufmann Well, you made a decision to let that fire burn until the bunker was destroyed. Isn't that right?
Well, you made a decision
to let that fire burn
until the bunker was destroyed.
Gregore Sambor When you talk about a weapon, you talk about a weapon as being used against probably individuals, and that was never a consideration, nor would I ever use it as a consideration.
Isn't that right?
When you talk
about a weapon,
you talk about a weapon
as being used against
probably individuals,
and that was never
a consideration, nor would I
ever use it as a consideration.
Justice Bruce Kaufmann Well, Fire Commissioner Richmond, what did you understand the police commissioner was asking you to do?
Well,
Fire Commissioner Richmond,
what did you understand
the police commissioner
was asking you to do?
William Richmond I would respond in the same way, Justice Kaufmann. There is no one that I know in city government that would use weapons-- intentionally go out there to burn those people like that. There's no one that I know of could do that.
I would respond in the same way,
Justice Kaufmann.
There is no one that I know
in city government...
that would intentionally
go out there
to burn those people like that.
There's no one that I know of
could do that.
[music]
"I am trying to imagine what would make me turn back and run into the fire." - Reverend Paul Washington As night fell, attention turned to events in the alley behind the MOVE house. POLICE COMMISSIONER GREGORE SAMBOR
William B. Lytton You were aware in 1978, I assume, that a situation had developed involving certain police officers and Delbert Africa?
You were aware in 1978,
I assume,
1978 shoot-out
Delbert Africa
MOVE commission
Police
revenge
that a situation
had developed...
involving
certain police officers
and Delbert Africa?
Gregore Sambor Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Did you give any instructions...
William B. Lytton Did you give any instructions as to whether or not the officers who were specifically involved in that altercation should or should not be included in the operation for May 13th, 1985?
as to whether or not the
officers who were specifically
involved in that altercation...
should or should not be
included in the operation
for May 13, 1985?
Gregore Sambor I did not.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY ED RENDELL
I did not.
Weren't you concerned that there
might be some revenge motive...
UNKNOWN Weren't you concerned that, ah, there might be some, ah, ah, revenge, ah, ah, motive which may take, ah, the, ah, police action beyond the legal limits?
which may take the police action
beyond the legal limits?
Ed Rendell I think there's no question there was, ah, at least on the part of some policemen, residual anger towards MOVE organization or, or members thereof, no question about that.
I think there's no question
there was,
at least on the part
of some policemen,
residual anger...
towards MOVE organization
or members thereof--
No question about that.
William B. Lytton Ah, would the, ah, court reporter please swear in the witnesses?
[ Lytton ]
Would the court reporter
please swear in the witnesses?
TESTIMONY OF OFFICERS TERRANCE MULVIHILL AND LAWRENCE D'ULISSE
Court Reporter Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?
Do you solemnly swear to
tell the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth...
so help you God?
[ Both ]
I do.
Lawrence D'Ulisse I do.
OFFICER LAWRENCE D'ULISSE
Terrance Mulvihill I do.
White Man Officer D'Ulisse, I understand that in 1978, you were present, ah, on August 8 during an altercation that occurred with Delbert Orr Africa.
Officer D'Ulisse,
I understand that in 1978,
you were present on August 8...
during an altercation that
occurred with Delbert Africa.
Lawrence D'Ulisse Yes.
OFFICER TERRANCE MULVIHILL ATTORNEY ROBERT MOZENTER
White Man And Officer Mulvihill?
Yes.
And Officer Mulvihill?
What does that have to do
with May the 13th?
Attorney Robert Mozenter What does that have to do with May the 13th? The officer was tried and found not guilty of that offense.
The officer was tried and found
not guilty of that offense.
White Man That's-- that was going to be my next statement, Mr. Mozenter. Ah, officer, we understand that, that you were charged in connection with that case, and also we understand that, uhm, there was a direct verdict by Judge DiBona of not guilty in that case. Is that correct?
That was going to be
my next statement, Mr. Mozenter.
Officer, we understand
that you were charged
in connection with that case,
and also we understand that
there was a direct verdict...
by Judge DiBona
of not guilty in that case.
Is that correct?
That's correct.
Speaking: Pete Kane 10 Cameraman LIVE: West Philadelphia 10 NEWS
Terrance Mulvihill That's correct.
Pete Kane Stakeout police have just taken position. There, there must be movement somewhere in the Osage, and they're all scattering between, ah, 62nd and, ah, in Osage and 63rd. They're running around like, you know, something's going on around here.
[ Man ] Stakeout police
have just taken position.
There must be movement
somewhere in the Osage,
and they're all scattering
between 62nd and Osage and 63rd.
They're running around like
something's going on
around here.
Larry, Reporter These are live pictures. They are looking for something there.
[ Man ]
These are live pictures. They
are looking for something there.
[ Harvey ]
You can hear hollering.
Pete Kane You can hear hollering. Where it was coming from, Larry, I don't know.
Where it was coming from,
Larry, I don't know.
[ Michael ]
When the fire got real heavy,
Children
Fire
Police
Michael Moses Ward When the fire got real heavy, when we smelled all that smoke, and we couldn't breathe, then that's when we started yelling that "kids coming out," and then, and then they opened the garage door and opened the, uhm, cellar window.
when we smelled all that smoke,
and we couldn't breathe,
then that's when we started
yelling that "kids coming out,"
and then
they opened the garage door
and opened the cellar window.
[ Brown ]
What did you say?
What did you yell?
William H. Brown, III What did you say? What did you yell?
Michael Moses Ward We were saying, "We wanna come out!"
We were saying,
"We wanna come out!"
"We wanna come out"?
William H. Brown, III "We wanna come out"? And what did the other children do? Did they do the same thing?
And what did
the other children do?
Did they do the same thing?
Yeah.
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
William H. Brown, III Were any of the children crying?
Michael Moses Ward Yeah. We all was.
Were any
of the children crying?
Yeah. We all was.
UNKNOWN Why had you all gone to the back alley?
MOVE commission
Police
weapons
Why had you all gone
to the back alley?
To prevent
the escape of MOVE members.
Terrance Mulvihill To prevent the escape of MOVE members.
UNKNOWN Well, what did you expect to find in that alley, the reason why you took a machine gun back there?
Well, what did you expect
to find in that alley,
the reason why you took
a machine gun back there?
I had no idea what to expect
in the alley.
Terrance Mulvihill I had no idea of what to expect in the alley.
There was no camera with a direct view of the alley. TESTIMONY OF OFFICERS TRUDEL, GRIFFITHS, AND BARIANA
UNKNOWN Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?
MOVE commission
police
[ Man ]
Do you solemnly swear
to tell the truth...
and nothing but the truth
so help you God?
[ Officers ] I do.
UNKNOWN I do.
Your vantage point
was to the back of 6221.
William B. Lytton Your vantage point was to the back of 6221. Is that correct?
Is that correct?
Yes.
Donald Griffiths Yes.
William B. Lytton All right. Was there any time that you observed either with your eyes or your ears people attempting to come out of that house?
All right.
Was there any time...
that you observed either
with your eyes or your ears...
people attempting
to come out of that house?
I heard a female scream,
"Don't shoot. We're coming out."
Donald Griffiths I heard a, ah, a female scream, "Don't shoot. We're coming out." At that time, Officer Trudel, who was at the rear window, Officer Trudel said, "They're coming out."
At that time Officer Trudel
who was at the rear window--
Officer Trudel said,
"They're coming out."
LIVE: West Philadelphia
If you look carefully,
by the way--
Larry If you look carefully, by the way, if you can take a look so I can point to the monitor here, right here is a line of stakeout squad officers, and they seem to be lined up at the ready waiting for something to happen. They seem to be waiting for something to come out of that house.
If you can take a look so
I can point to the monitor here,
right here is a line
of stakeout squad officers,
and they seem
to be lined up at the ready
waiting for something to happen.
They seem to be waiting
for something to
come out of that house.
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
[ Lytton ]
You said that Rad
tried to take Tomaso out?
William H. Brown, III You said that Rad tried to take Tomaso out?
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm. He was on his knees, and Toma-- he had Tomaso around his stomach like that.
Mm-hmm.
He was on his knees,
and he had Tomaso
around his stomach like that.
William H. Brown, III On his knees? Was he crawling along the, ah, garage floor?
On his knees?
Was he crawling
along the garage floor?
Michael Moses Ward Rad was.
Rad was.
Children
Conrad Africa
Tomaso Africa
Conrad "Rad" Africa pictured in 1976 Tomaso Africa pictured in 1976
Conrad Africa
MOVE commission
Police
weapons
William J. Trudel Now, when they did come out, I see the smaller child come out, and then an adult male come out right behind them.
[ Trudel ] Now,
when they did come out, I see
the smaller child come out,
and then an adult male
come out right behind them.
William B. Lytton Yeah.
William J. Trudel And he stood up and aimed a rifle up in the direction of Officer Bariana's position and fired, like four or five quick shots.
Yeah.
And he stood up...
and aimed a rifle
up in the direction
of Officer Bariana's position...
and fired, like,
four or five quick shots.
William H. Brown, III Did Conrad have a rifle or a gun when he went out the, the garage door? What did he use to open the bolt on the door?
Did Conrad
have a rifle or a gun...
Birdie Africa
Children
Conrad Africa
Michael Ward
weapons
when he went
out the garage door?
Mm-mmm.
What did he use
to open the bolt on the door?
A big monkey wrench.
Michael Moses Ward A big, uhm, monkey wrench.
William H. Brown, III A big monkey wrench.
William B. Lytton Are you certain it was a rifle and not a monkey wrench or something of that nature?
A big monkey wrench?
Are you certain it was a rifle
and not a monkey wrench
or something of that nature?
William J. Trudel No, sir. When this-- I know a rifle, believe me. And when this male pointed this rifle up I-- in other words, I, I could hear sound and see muzzle flashes.
No, sir. When this--
I know a rifle, believe me.
And when this male
pointed this rifle up,
I-- In other words,
I could hear sound
and see muzzle flashes.
William H. Brown, III Now, you say that, ah, some shooting started. Did you hear shooting?
Now, you say
that some shooting started.
Did you hear shooting?
MOVE commission
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
Michael Moses Ward It was a ts-ts-ts, like it was just going after-- like it was going-- bullets were going after each other. Like...
It was a--
[ Imitating Gunfire ]
Like it was just going after--
Like it was going--
Bullets were going
after each other. Like--
Bullets were going
one right after the other.
[ Imitating Gunfire ]
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
William H. Brown, III Bullets were going one right after ts-ts-ts, something like that?
William B. Lytton Sergeant Griffiths, could you just by rapping on the table indicate the sound the best you can recall of those shots?
Something like that?
Yeah.
Sergeant Griffiths, could you
just by rapping on the table...
MOVE commission
indicate the sound the best
you can recall of those shots?
It was not automatic fire,
if that's what you're asking.
Donald Griffiths It was not automatic fire, if that's what you're asking.
William B. Lytton Okay, could you just try and indicate for me what it sounded like?
Okay, could you just try
and indicate for me
what it sounded like?
[ Tapping Three Times ]
POLICE OFFICERS D'ULISSE AND MULVIHILL
William B. Lytton Did you ever fire your weapons after the bomb was dropped, Officer Mulvihill?
Did you ever fire your weapons
after the bomb was dropped,
Officer Mulvihill?
Terrance Mulvihill No, sir.
No, sir.
Officer D'Ulisse?
No, sir.
Lawrence D'Ulisse No, sir.
William B. Lytton Officer D'Ulisse?
Michael Moses Ward He had two officers taking him out, and then they started shooting again, and then they brought him back in, and then they locked the thing back up.
Birdie Africa
Conrad Africa
Michael Ward
Police
He had two officers
taking him out, and then
they started shooting again,
and then they brought him
back in, and then
they locked the thing back up.
Children
MOVE commission
Police
Did you see the child
actually go back into the house?
William B. Lytton Did you see the child actually go back into the house?
William J. Trudel I believe the child went back into the house.
[ Trudel ]
I believe the child
went back into the house.
All right.
William B. Lytton All right.
REV. PAUL WASHINGTON
Reverend Paul Washington Do you have any idea why that person may have gone back into the fire?
dehumanization
Fire
MOVE commission
Police
Do you have any idea
why that person may have
gone back into the fire?
OFFICER LAWRENCE D'ULISSE
Officer Lawrence D'Ulisse My own idea? What I think?
Reverend Paul Washington Yes.
My own idea? What I think?
Yes.
I just think
they went back into that fire...
Lawrence D'Ulisse I just think they went back into that fire sort of to regroup.
sort of to regroup.
Reverend Paul Washington Well, just as a human being myself, I'm just trying to imagine myself in that situation, and behind me there's a raging inferno, and in front of me there are people who are saying "come on out." I'm trying to imagine what would cause me to turn back and run into the fire.
Well,
just as a human being myself...
I'm just trying
to imagine myself
in that situation...
and behind me
there's a raging inferno...
and in front of me
there are people
who are saying "come on out."
I'm trying to imagine...
what would cause me to turn back
and run into the fire.
Lawrence D'Ulisse I don't think we said anything other than, ah, come down to us. Come, come on down with your hands up, ah, normal police jargon for, ah, calling the suspects to come down.
I don't think we said anything
other than come down to us.
Come on down
with your hands up--
the normal police jargon
for calling the suspects
to come down.
Mm-hmm.
Reverend Paul Washington Uh-hmm. I'm just saying that I'm trying to put myself in that person's skin.
I'm just saying that
I'm trying to put myself
in that person's skin.
Sir, I don't think
you ever could.
These were MOVE members.
Officer Lawrence D'Ulisse Sir, I don't think you ever could. These were MOVE members.
Reverend Paul Washington Well, you see, I knew a lot of those people as individuals and as human beings. A lot of people know MOVE from what they may have seen. But I had a lot of dealings with them, and I knew them to be more than MOVE people. I knew many of them by name, as human beings. It's probably a rhetorical question. I don't think you from the way you've responded, I don't think you can answer that.
Well, you see,
I knew a lot of those people...
as individuals
and as human beings.
A lot of people know MOVE
from what they may have seen.
But I had
a lot of dealings with them,
and I knew them to be more
than MOVE people.
I knew many of them by name,
as human beings.
It's probably
a rhetorical question.
I don't think you--
From the way you've responded,
I don't think
you can answer that.
Lawrence D'Ulisse No, sir.
No, sir.
[music]
William H. Brown, III And then, then what happened to Tomaso?
Birdie Africa
Children
Fire
Michael Ward
Police
rhonda Africa
Tomaso Africa
And then
what happened to Tomaso?
Michael Moses Ward Rhonda was going like this on his back.
Rhonda was going like this
on his back.
[ Tapping ]
Rhonda had Tomaso?
Mm-hmm.
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm.
William H. Brown, III Rhonda had Tomaso?
William H. Brown, III And she was hitting him on his back? Was he crying then? He had stopped crying? Did you, did you hear him cry anymore after she was trying to pat him and hit him on his back?
And she was hitting him
on his back?
Was he crying then?
He had stopped crying?
Did you hear him cry anymore...
after she was trying to pat him
and hit him on his back?
Michael Moses Ward Only one time.
William H. Brown, III And then what happened?
Only one time.
And then what happened?
He stopped.
He stopped?
Michael Moses Ward He stopped.
William H. Brown, III He stopped? And, and then what happened?
And then what happened?
I didn't hear nobody,
and I just ran out of there.
Michael Moses Ward I didn't hear nobody, and I just ran out of there.
[music]
LIVE: West Philadelphia
Fire
media
[ Sirens Wailing ]
[ Harvey ]
Oh, my goodness.
Harvey Clarke Oh, my goodness. Well, Larry, the flames are probably now leaping, uhm, ah, 10 stories high. Ah, it just looked like something was completely engulfed. What you're seeing now...
Well, Larry,
the flames are probably
now leaping, um--
uh, 10 stories high.
It just looked like something
was completely engulfed.
What you're seeing now--
Larry You're telling me that the flames are now leaping high?
[ Larry ]
You're telling me that
the flames are now leaping high?
[music]
Officers James Berghaier and Tommy Mellor witnessed the only two survivors exiting the building. POLICE OFFICERS BERGHAIER AND MELLOR OFFICER JAMES BERGHAIER
Birde africa
Children
Fire
Michael Ward
MOVE commission
Ramona Africa
James Berghaier I remember Ramona coming from the rear of the MOVE yard over the fence and down. She had started to walk down, stopped. And she would wave with her hand like this. And then I see Birdie. The way I describe it, it looked like he literally came through the fire. Ah, there was a board on fire there, and he hopped over that and he started coming down.
I remember Ramona coming
from the rear of the MOVE yard
over the fence and down.
She had started
to walk down, stopped.
And she would wave
with her hand like this.
And then I see Birdie.
The way I describe it,
it looked like he literally
came through the fire.
There was a board on fire there,
and he hopped over that
and he started coming down.
William H. Brown, III What did you see when you first ran out of the house?
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
What did you see when
you first ran out of the house?
Michael Moses Ward I saw fire and stuff.
William H. Brown, III You saw fire? Where did you see the fire?
I saw fire and stuff.
You saw fire?
Where did you see the fire?
The tree was on fire,
and the house was.
Michael Moses Ward The tree was on fire, and the house was.
William H. Brown, III And the house was on fire? How about on the ground? Was anything on the ground on fire?
And the house was on fire?
How about on the ground? Was
anything on the ground on fire?
Michael Moses Ward Some of the pieces of the tree was falling down.
The pieces of the tree
was falling down.
Pieces of fire from the tree
were falling down?
William H. Brown, III Pieces of fire from the tree were falling down? Did the adults tell you what to do if you all got out of the house?
Did the adults
tell you what to do
if you all got out of the house?
They told us to stay together.
Michael Moses Ward They told us to stay together.
James Berghaier Ramona's up top.
Birdie Africa
Children
MOVE commission
Ramona Africa
[ Berghaier ]
Ramona's up top.
[ Lytton ] She's on the walkway,
the elevated walkway?
That's right.
OFFICER JAMES BERGHAIER
William B. Lytton She's on the walkway, the elevated walkway?
James Berghaier That's right. Birdie's in the driveway. Now, were-- as they're coming down, Ramona's a little bit in the front. But at one time does Ramona stop, and she goes over to the railing on a (inaudible ) the and reached over and tried to pick Birdie up. He got, I believe, one foot, maybe two, I don't know on the bottom of the concrete wall where the fence meets, okay? And she either let go or slipped or whatever. But Birdie fell back. He went back. And I remember he didn't get a chance to put his hands down to break his fall. The impression I was left with he, he landed square on his head.
Birdie's in the driveway.
Now, as they're coming down,
Ramona's a little bit
in the front.
But at one time
does Ramona stop...
and she goes over to the railing
and reached over
and tried to pick Birdie up.
He got I believe one foot,
maybe two-- I don't know--
on the bottom
of the concrete wall
where the fence meets.
Okay?
And she either let go
or slipped or whatever.
But Birdie fell back.
He went back.
And I remember he didn't get
a chance to put his hands down
to break his fall.
The impression I was left with--
He landed square on his head.
OFFICER TOMMY MELLOR
Birdie Africa
MOVE commission
Police
If you're watching somebody
or somebody falls...
Tommy Mellor If you're watching somebody or somebody falls, and you hear a thud, you can almost feel it. That's the same sensation I think we all got that we knew Birdie was, was hurt at this time. It was an actual feeling. We could all feel it.
and you hear a thud,
you can almost feel it.
That's the same sensation
I think we all got--
that we knew Birdie
was hurt at this time.
It was an actual feeling.
We could all feel it.
Michael Moses Ward That's when I fell and then I fainted.
Birdie Africa
Children
Michael Ward
[music]
LIVE FROM CHOPPER 6
[ Helicopter Whirring ]
Children
Birdie Africa
hero
MOVE commission
Police
Ramona Africa
I remember Birdie
just laying there,
not doing anything.
Officer James Berghaier I remember Birdie just laying there, not doing anything. I said, "Tommy, here. Take my shotgun." I said, "I'm gonna go get the kid." And I remember him saying to me, "I'll cover you."
I said, "Tommy, here.
Take my shotgun." I said,
"I'm gonna go get the kid."
And I remember him saying to me,
"I'll cover you."
William B. Lytton Mr., ah, Officer Mellor saying that?
James Berghaier That's right. Ah, at one point did I start out to get Birdie, and that's the first time, I realized Officer Tursi was behind me. He grabbed my left shoulder. He said, "Don't go out there, Jim. It's a trap."
- [ Lytton ]
Officer Mellor saying that?
- That's right.
At one point
did I start out to get Birdie,
and that's the first time
I realized
Officer Tursi was behind me.
He grabbed my left shoulder.
He said, "Don't go out there,
Jim. It's a trap."
What was your concern, Officer?
POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL TURSI
William B. Lytton What was your concern, Officer?
Michael Tursi I don't know how to explain it other than a sixth sense, ah, or something that there was something wrong in the way Ramona went down. I just felt something was incorrect or not right about that situation. I stopped him from grow-- going out right at that time. That's all.
I don't know how to explain it
other than a sixth sense
or something...
that there was something wrong
in the way Ramona went down.
I just felt something
was incorrect or not right
about that situation.
I stopped him from going out
right at that time. That's all.
James Berghaier I was scared to death. I just didn't wanna let that kid lay there like that.
I was scared to death.
I just didn't wanna let
that kid lay there like that.
William B. Lytton So what did you do?
MOVE commission
Police
[ Lytton ]
So what did you do?
Birdie Africa
My priorities at that time
were the kid.
James Berghaier Ma-- my priorities at that time were the kid. We're trying to say to him, "Son, come over here. Come over here." We're trying to get him to come to us. This is the result of Officer Tursi saying be careful. "It's not right," or something to that effect. "It doesn't feel right." Inadvertently, Birdie gets up. I remember him taking a few steps and he went down in the water.
We're trying to say to him,
"Son, come over here.
Come over here."
We're trying to get him
to come to us.
This is the result of
Officer Tursi saying be careful.
"It's not right"
or something to that effect.
"It doesn't feel right."
Inadvertently,
Birdie gets up.
I remember him
taking a few steps
and went down in the water.
He fell?
William B. Lytton He fell?
James Berghaier I, I interpreted it as a fall or stumble or whatever. As soon as he went down in the water, at the same time that I seen that, Officer Tursi is right with me. I said, "Mike, I'm getting the kid," and, ah, he said "I got you covered." I remember I went in underneath with my right hand, and I scooped him underneath his left arm.
I interpreted it as a fall
or stumble or whatever.
As soon as
he went down in the water,
at the same time
that I seen that,
Officer Tursi's right with me.
I said,
"Mike, I'm getting the kid,"
and he said,
"I got you covered."
I remember I went in
underneath with my right hand,
and I scooped him
underneath his left arm.
[ Lytton ]
Was his head
submerged under the water?
William B. Lytton Was his head submerged under the water?
James Berghaier I don't remember. As soon as he hit the water, I went.
I don't remember.
As soon as he hit the water,
I went.
Birdie Africa
Children
hero
[music]
I remember as soon
as I scooped him up,
Birdie Africa
Children
MOVE commission
Police
he said to me,
"Don't shoot me.
Don't shoot me."
James Berghaier I remember as soon as I scooped him up, he said to me, "Don't shoot me. Don't shoot me."
[sil.]
[music]
[ Brown ]
When the police got you
after you finally got out,
William H. Brown, III When the police got you after you finally got out, ah, did they ask you anything about whether or not there were any kids still in the house, or were there any other, ah, grown-ups still in the house?
did they ask you anything
about whether or not there were
any kids still in the house...
or were there
any other grown-ups
still in the house?
Michael Moses Ward Yeah.
William H. Brown, III You said there were other kids still there?
Yeah.
You said there
were other kids still there?
Mm-hmm.
Do you remember who it was
who was still in the house?
Michael Moses Ward Uh-hmm.
William H. Brown, III Do you remember who it was who was still in the house?
Michael Moses Ward Tree, Netta, Tomaso and Melissa, Phil, and the big people were Theresa, Rhonda, Paul, Nick, and Rad and C.K.
Tree,
Netta,
Tomaso and Melissa,
Phil,
and the big people
were Theresa, Rhonda,
Paul,
Nick...
and Rad and C.K.
Michael's mother, Rhonda Harris Ward Africa, was one of the eleven people killed in the fire.
Here the consistent sound of flames is an added track in the edit of the film. This fire sound endures despite changes in the cut. It is also further augmented through a faked helicopter sound. These effects are also accompanied with a string instrument that conveys an affect of sadness, despair.
[ Sirens Wailing ]
[sil.]
Epilogue. Ramona and Michael were the only people to escape the fire alive.
UNKNOWN Ramona Africa, the MOVE spokesperson in recent weeks, is in police custody tonight. She was captured outside the MOVE compound sometime after the massive fire broke out there this afternoon.
[ Man ] Ramona Africa, the MOVE
spokesperson in recent weeks,
is in police custody tonight.
She was captured
outside the MOVE compound...
sometime after the massive fire
broke out there this afternoon.
UNKNOWN The child being treated here at Children's is suffering from second and third-degree burns on his arms and legs. All officials know at this point about his identity is that his last name is Africa.
[ Woman ]
The child being treated
here at Children's...
is suffering from second-
and third-degree burns
on his arms and legs.
All officials know
at this point about his identity
is that his last name is Africa.
UNKNOWN All night long, an increasing number of firemen have been trying to battle what is now a six-alarm blaze.
[ Man ]
All night long, an increasing
number of firemen...
have been trying to battle
what is now a six-alarm blaze.
6 LIVE ACTION CAM
Chris Wagner There's a lot more water being trained on it, but it looks as though this is going to burn for a long, long time.
[ Chris ]
There's a lot more water
being trained on it,
but it looks as though
this is going to burn
for a long, long time.
[music]
[ Goode ]
We had a difficult problem.
Wilson Goode We had a difficult problem. We made a difficult decision. It did not turn out as we intended. As we face the coming days, I ask your prayers for our city, for the homeless families and for the families of those who've lost lives.
We made a difficult decision.
It did not turn out
as we intended.
As we face the coming days,
I ask your prayers for our city,
for the homeless families...
and for the families
of those who've lost lives.
[music]
Wilson Goode left politics to become a minister in 1991. The City of Philadelphia paid to rebuild the neighborhood, but the new houses were condemned in 2000 due to shoddy construction.
Laverne Sims In the beginning, MOVE people were the most happiest bunch of people you could ever know. We were a family, peaceful, loving. And in the beginning, MOVE was harassed a great deal. We were beat many, many times. We were jailed many, many times. And I'm talking about a people who had feelings, who are no different than you or I.
LaVerne Sims, sister of John Africa (born Vincent Leaphart), the founder of MOVE. Sitting alongside her (and embracing her in the following footage) is her sister Louise James. Sims and James were former members of MOVE.
In the beginning, MOVE people...
were the most happiest bunch
of people you could ever know.
We were a family--
peaceful, loving.
And in the beginning,
MOVE was harassed a great deal.
We were beat many, many times.
[ Voice Cracking ] We were
jailed many, many times.
And I'm talking about
a people...
who had feelings--
[ Sniffles ]
who are no different
than you or I.
[music]
Children died May 13, 1985 Katricia Dotson / Tree Africa Zanetta Dotson / Netta Africa Phil Phillips / Phil Africa Delitia Orr / Melissa Africa Tomaso Levino / Tomaso Africa MOVE Members died May 13, 1985 Raymond Foster Africa Conrad Hampton Africa Frank James Africa Rhonda Harris Ward Africa Theresa Brooks Africa Vincent Leapheart / John Africa LaVerne Sims and Louise James are no longer affiliated with MOVE. Ramona Africa represented herself in court.
Ramona Africa If the system can convict me of riot and conspiracy in a blatant situation like that where it's obvious to everybody the whole world that I did not riot, then it should not be hard to imagine at all why and how this system convicted nine people of murdering one cop. It's the same thing that the system had one intention in both confrontations to either kill MOVE people, or to put us in prison as long as possible. It's just that simple.
If the system can convict me
of riot and conspiracy...
in a blatant situation
like that...
where it's obvious to
everybody-- the whole world--
that I did not riot,
then it should not be hard
to imagine at all...
why and how this system
convicted nine people
of murdering one cop.
It's the same thing--
that the system
had one intention
in both confrontations--
to either kill MOVE people
or to put us in prison
as long as possible.
It's just that simple.
Ramona and MOVE are still fighting for the release of the members imprisoned in 1978.
Reverend Paul Washington Was it like being in a war?
[ Rev. Washington ]
Was it like being in a war?
This moment, where Officer Berghaier speaks at the MOVE commission, seems to almost take on the adult stance of the filmmaker Jason Osder. The cop is absolved by the commission and is considered as a model for hope and a hero for seeing Michael (or Birdie) and thinking of his own children and choosing to spare him, even though the police were shooting at those attempting to escape the MOVE house. Berghaier's resignation due to his PTSD and the racially charged harassment that he received from his fellow officers paints him as an innocent and shows him sympathetic light; as though he is also a victim of the bombings. This is underlined by the music track under the footage, as well as Osden showing this footage alongside the final moments of Michael (Birdie's) deposition. Their experiences are paralleled even though, in reality, their experiences of the bombing were vastly different. Both Officer Berghaier and Birdie are commended for their involvement in the commission. The commission ultimately wanted to tie the incident up in a neat bow, attempting to have some moving message about empathy, while failing to press charges or make any changes in the city government or police or fire departments.
There's just too many things
are going on, to sit here
and just say how you felt.
James Berghaier There's just too many things are going on, to sit here and just say how you felt. We felt-- I thought about the kids in the house. I thought about my kids. I thought about a lot of things. But first to sit here and I could-- I don't know. I couldn't answer that.
We felt-- I thought
about the kids in the house.
I thought about my kids.
I thought about a lot of things.
But to sit here-- I don't know.
Reverend Paul Washington Uh-hmm.
I couldn't answer that.
Mm-hmm.
After over 70 minutes of footage documenting the violence of the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Police Department—once Mayor Wilson Goode, Police Commissioner Gregore J. Sambor, and Fire Commissioner William Richmond testify to their roles in the bombing and main- tenance of the subsequent fire that resulted in deaths, displacement, and devastation—Osder moves to a sequence that oddly attempts to redeem a police officer who picked-up Birdie Africa after he had been knocked unconscious while running from the burning building. Through the closing sequence, where that officer’s testimony is contrasted against Birdie Africa’s deposition, we learn that the officer faced ridicule—being called a “n****r lover”—after helping Birdie get to safer ground. Osder’s narrative implores sympathy for the very same institution responsible for the attack, attempting to call into question what we have learned about the barrage of gun fire that escaping MOVE members were met with and the manifest revenge police officers sought after the death of one of their collaborators during the 1978 attack. Once more, Osder sustains the hold. A bomb dropped; a raging inferno; six adults and five children dead; 61 homes destroyed; 250 people displaced; and the police officer remains the hero.
The attempt at objectivity betrays itself.
NATALEAH HUNTER-YOUNG
SMOKE SCREENS
AND CINEMATIC REPRESENTATIONS OF THE MOVE BOMBING
https://pad.ma/documents/CBZ/6
UNKNOWN I am, ah-- I've, ah, been sitting here listening for many days, and, ah, I've read scores of pages of, ah, reports and testimony. And it has all been-- all of it, ah, very depressing, and very discouraging, except, ah, what I've read about Officer Berghaier and what I've heard from Officer Berghaier. And if there's any hope in this whole sorry situation, it's because of that officer, and I wanna thank him.
I am, uh--
I've, uh, been sitting here
listening for many days...
and I've read scores of pages
of reports and testimony.
And it has all been--
all of it--
uh, very depressing...
and very discouraging...
except what I've read
about Officer Berghaier...
and what I've heard
from Officer Berghaier.
And if there's any hope
in this whole sorry situation,
it's because of that officer,
and I wanna thank him.
[ Berghaier ] Thank you, sir.
James Berghaier Thank you, sir.
[music]
After his testimony, "nigger lover" was written on James Berghaier's police locker. Diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, he left the force in 1987.
William H. Brown, III I think you've done such a good job. I'm gonna stop my questions now, and I wanna thank you for taking all this time to come in here and chat with us. That will bring a smile to your face, won't it? And I wanna thank your dad, Mr. Ward. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
[ Brown ]
I think you've done
such a good job.
I'm gonna stop
my questions now,
and I wanna thank you
for taking all this time to
come in here and chat with us.
That will bring a smile
to your face, won't it?
And I wanna thank
your dad, Mr. Ward.
Andino Ward You're welcome.
William H. Brown, III And Mr. Shrager, of course.
Thank you very much
for your cooperation.
You're quite welcome.
And Mr. Shrager,
of course.
Thank you.
This will conclude
this deposition of testimony...
Attorney David Shrager Thank you.
William H. Brown, III Ah, this will conclude this, ah, deposition of testimony of Michael, ah, Ward.
of Michael, uh, Ward.
[music]
Michael began living with his father, who had been serving overseas in the military. He became a long-haul truck driver.
William H. Brown, III As of today, you the people have all the principal facts which tell the story of the Osage Avenue tragedy. Rarely has any community ever subjected itself to a public self-appraisal, as painful and necessary as this has been. But we believe that this process is absolutely necessary to prevent such a terrible thing from ever happening again. And now I declare these public hearings to be in recess until further notice.
[ Brown ]
As of today,
you the people,
have all the principal facts...
which tell the story
of the Osage Avenue tragedy.
Rarely has any community
ever subjected itself...
to a public self-appraisal...
as painful and necessary
as this has been.
But we believe that this process
is absolutely necessary...
to prevent such a terrible thing
from ever happening again.
And now I declare
these public hearings...
to be in recess
until further notice.
In its final report, the commission concluded that city officers and police were negligent in their actions. No criminal charges were ever filed. LET THE FIRE BURN in memory of MOSES WARD 1971-2013 directed and produced by JASON OSDER edited by NELS BANGERTER executive producer ANDREW HERWITZ original music by CHRISTOPHER MANGUM associate producer John Aldrich colorist Robbie Carman sound design Cheryl Ottenritter and Richard Shapirp re-recording mixer Cheryl Ottenritter online editor Michael Kahn legal services Donaldson and Callif special thanks Michael Boyette Randi Boyette Doug Block Sandra Dickson Erica Ginsberg Jeremy Guyre Dean Hamer Kerric Harvey Matthew Hindman Michael Lerman Alex Roldan research assistants Andrea Vittorio Clara Pak interns Ryder Haske Ralston Smith additional production Darryl Pugh additional research Rosemary Rotondi transfers and duplications Jeff Slauzsis original score performed by The Sofia Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra Christopher Mangum, conductor additional musicians Bruno Nasta - viola Marcio Botelho - cello additional music Gnossienne No. 5 written by Erik Satie, 1889 performed by Emily White footage provided by 6ABC Philadelphia ABC News CBS3 Philadelphia NBC10 Philadelphia WGBH Boston WHYY Philadelphia Public Television Temple University Karen Pomer photo credits The Associated Press The Philadelphia Inquirer The Philadelphia Daily News thank you Ramona Africa Stephanie Baldwin James Berghaier Charles Bowser William Brown III Catherine Carman Harvey Clarke Drexel University Traci Drummond Kristin Feely Brenda Galloway-Wright Dorothy Gilliam Milton Ginsberg Megan Glass Kristie Gonzales Dave Gorrie Blaine Graboyes Kimberly Gross Cindie Hurley Jason Ishikawa Chithra Jeyram Phil Katz Erick Lee Cara Mertes Mharlyn Merritt Saie Mohammed Ian Olds John Ottenritter Barbara Osder and Murray Rapoport John Pettit Thom Towers Temple University Urban Archive Rahdi Taylor Tahul Ready Rachel Rakes Roxanne Russel Juan Salvo Frank Sesno Mike Shanahan Shrager, Spivey & Sachs, LLP, Robin Wagner-Pacifici Michael Moses Ward supported by School of Media & Public Affairs THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY DOCS IN PROGRESS hotDOCSforum SUNDANCE INSTITUTE ifp summit © 2013 by Jason Osder and The George Washington University
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