Remembering the MOVE bombing

​This month marks 40 years since the MOVE Bombing leveled blocks of West Philly homes on and around the 6200 block of Osage Avenue, killing 11 people and displacing 253 people. It is a rare instance of the U.S. dropping bombs on American citizens. Why and what justice has been served? There’s renewed attention on this devastating moment in Philadelphia history as researchers aim to answer these questions. 

On Mother’s Day 1985, neighbors who lived near the MOVE headquarters, a home on Osage Avenue, were ordered to evacuate. The MOVE organization is a Black liberation group. However, some of the group’s actions have been labeled as terrorism, which led to the arrest of members. On May 13, 1985, hundreds of Philadelphia Police Officers occupied the streets surrounding the MOVE home to lure out and arrest members. As a result, a shootout between MOVE members and the police began. That afternoon, Mayor Goode approved the use of a bomb, even though there were several children in the home. Police and Fire officials allowed the fire that followed the bomb to burn for over an hour before taking action to put it out. The fire burnt down 61 homes and damaged dozens of other homes. Following the disaster, the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission, also known as the MOVE Commission, reviewed the incident. The MOVE commission put the largest share of blame on city officials. Yet, a jury did not find them criminally responsible.

The bombing has made a lasting impact on the community and its housing stock. Reconstruction efforts were rushed and led to lawsuits over the dangerous structures. In 1997, city officials decided it would be cheaper to buy back the poorly built homes than face another lawsuit. In 2008, homeowners who had refused to sell were awarded over $12 million in a settlement, but a court of appeal lowered the reward to the original amount offered by the city, just $150,000 per home. By 2020, most of the homes had been renovated and sold by the city of Philadelphia. The actions of city officials in 1985, destroyed a neighborhood and it took over 3 decades for the city to apologize and properly rebuild the homes, costing the city millions in the process. 

Investigations into the misbehavior surrounding this incident continue. Just over a decade ago, PBS WHYY released an hour-long documentary on the bombing. This documentary offers a direct look back in time, sharing a variety of footage of the lead-up, during, and the aftermath of the bombing. In 2024, Philadelphia officials confirmed the remains of victims were mishandled and there is now a lawsuit pending from the brother of two victims. Last month, Temple University and the Philadelphia Inquirer launched a podcast, MOVE: Untangling the Tragedy. They aim to address the circumstances that led the city to bomb a rowhome and the muddled aftermath. 

Naara Silva

Naara serves at AHCOPA as a second year AmeriCorps VISTA in the Housing Action Corps ​