MOVE is a
new religious movement (sometimes called
cult) founded in
Philadelphia by
Vincent Leaphart in 1972. Leaphart changed his name to
John Africa, and consequent followers were all required to adopt the
surname of
Africa as well, to promote a sense of togetherness and family.
Founded on
Christian principles and the
philosophy of
natural law, John Africa established MOVE in order to
break free of the "
system", the
government, and the
laws governing society, which he saw as corrupt and vile. He broke away from all
technology and lived in a
secluded establishment within Philadelphia. Most of his followers were former
drug and
alcohol abusers.
Members lived in extreme and
radical conditions, and only existed on raw
fruits and vegetables, and rarely
raw meat.
Children were given very little
clothing, even in the winter, and were expected to study from the movement's revered text, entitled
The Teachings of John Africa.
Men were expected to be
virile and father many children, and
women were seen as having one role: to
birth babies. They were
forbidden to see any doctors during their
pregnancy, and labor was expected to be natural. After the child was born, women were supposed to
lick the baby clean and chew off the
umbilical chord with their teeth.
Conflicts arose among
Philadelphians when people who resided in close proximity to the MOVE establishment began to complain about the
waste and
smell their neighborhoods were being infiltrated with. City residents demanded that the MOVE establishment be investigated, but MOVE members responded by erecting an eight foot
blockade around their property and flashing
weapons at any approaching law enforcement officers. This ultimately led to a
confrontation between MOVE members and city police, and officer
James Ramp was shot dead.
Mumia Abu-Jamal and eight other members of MOVE were arrested and given varying jail sentences.
After the
confrontation, MOVE relocated to another area of Philadelphia and likened their new establishment to that of a bunker. The group became even more vocal in their
anti-government stance, and neighbors once more became infuriated by the
waste being produced by the
movement, as well as constant
profane messages being broadcasted over loudspeakers from their establishment. In 1985, the ultimate confrontation occured, where
city officials attempted to storm the MOVE establishment and a two hour
shoot out occured between members and police. The mayor of Philadelphia at the time approved the use of an
explosive to blast a hole in their bunker, in order to use
tear gas to evacuate the establishment. The explosive did not create a hole. Instead, the roof of the bunker caught
fire, and everyone except two MOVE members (one adult named Ramona Africa who was convicted of
riot charges and
conspiracy, the other a thirteen year old boy) made it out of the house alive.
Ramona Africa and family members of those killed in the fire have filed a
lawsuit against the city of Philadelphia and other law enforcement officials. The city received much criticism for the way it handled the MOVE situation, and took a long time in settling claims with Ramona Africa and other family members of people who died in the fire. There is still much
controversy about the conviction and trial of
Mumia Abu-Jamal as well.
For more details about MOVE, see: http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/Move.html.