Final Claim

Something needed to be done regarding control over the MOVE group however, the city of Philadelphia could have went about the situation in a more ethical manor and should have considered the damage that would have been done to the city.

Claims (Emily)

Regan was sworn into office for a second term around the same time that the MOVE firebombing occurred. Throughout his campaign, he would mention that he was "Barry Goldwater's heir." Goldwater, a republican presidential nominee in 1964, was a voice for the people who were opposed to the Civil Rights Act because they believed that it was in the jurisdiction of the sovereign rights of the states to control the laws, not the federal government. While Regan only opposed the federal government mandating these laws, it is sometimes misconstrued as Regan not being in support of equal rights for minorities. This could have been the case with MOVE, causing them to hoard weapons, not follow orders, and get involved in a standoff with officials.

Nonconformist groups are typically feared by government officials. The mayor of Philadelpia could have had the impression that MOVE was a nonconformist group because MOVE would not follow police orders and requests to be quiet. This could have lead to the altercation that later percipitated.

claim ideas

City needed to respond to community complaints of the group MOVE, however their response was too harsh.

Bombs dropped on MOVE house and surrounding houses due to community complaints and city's desire to get rid of group.

*I don't know if this is exactly what he's looking for, I tried to come up with something general, but i don't know.

MOVE- The Facts

MOVE 1985- The Facts
• MOVE was a group of radicals who wore their hair in dreadlocks and rebelled against technology and modern practices of medicine and science
• Bomb was dropped in order to clear the house. The police had received a variety of complaints saying MOVE would broadcast political messages at all hours
• The bomb burned down almost an entire block of Osage Avenue
• Resulted in the death of five children and six adults, 61 destroyed homes
• The city of Philadelphia has spent $42 million on various things including financial statements, rebuilding and investigation to try and fix what happened on May 13,1985
• The mayor who ordered the bomb to be dropped happened to be the first black mayor of Philadelphia
• Jury found that the city of Philadelphia used excessive force and violated the groups constitution rights

On a Move

onamove.com seems to be John Africa's website. There is a blog about MOVE and pages within the site about MOVE's ways,

Mumbia move event - 12/9/81

John Africa's purpose for creating group was the "challenge the system"

9 people were sent to jail for third-degree murder in the '78 incident when a police officer was shot, but only one person can be responsible for the 1 bullet that killed him - that is, if a move bullet killed him at all. SO at least 8 people were innocent, but charged.

Mumia Abu Jamal: Dec. 9, 1981 

Officer Faulkner was detaining Mumia's brother, shot and bleeding, beaten on way to hospital and injured on the floor; officer known for his corruption; false and perjured testimonies during trial, biased jury;  been on death row for over 25 years, denied new trial continuously

Was a move "sympathizer" not a true member. 

 http://www.phillyimc.org/en/node/72596

Ramona Africa (adult survivor of '85 event): says police fired at Move members as they tried to escape the burning house

NPR

interview with father of son in fire of Move: 10 yrs after wife (right after divorce) ran away with him. one of 2 survivors. Birdie Africa - couldn't read or write, only eaten raw food, afraid of adults, never played with children before, had never seen money,  told his father that move made the children fight with one another until blood was drawn - called it training. Father helping him transition into the real world - taught him to read, transitioned to real food, set up play dates with real kids, invoke feeling of being a normal child, see changes when he wanted skateboards, asking to go out and hang out with friends, named mike ward not birdie. attended public high school, played football. move members contact him sometimes, mike not interested in talking with them, father says he's not afraid of them. now married with his own children.  

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4651126