MOVE (Philadelphia, John Africa)
Philadelphia-based Black-liberation back-to-nature movement founded by Vincent Leaphart / John Africa (1972). Subject of the May 1985 Philadelphia police bombing of MOVE's Osage Avenue compound, killing 11 including 5 children.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — Black-liberation back-to-nature movement; founder's authority absolute; subject of 1985 Philadelphia police bombing.
In context
MOVE combined Black-liberation politics, back-to-nature lifestyle, and total submission to John Africa's leadership. The 1985 Philadelphia police bombing — when officials dropped C-4 explosive on the Osage Avenue compound during a confrontation — killed 11 MOVE members and burned down 65 surrounding homes. Surviving MOVE members continue. The case is paradigmatic of catastrophic state violence against a religious-political community.
Key control doctrines
- John Africa's 'Guidelines'
- All members take 'Africa' surname
- Back-to-nature lifestyle
Notable public ex-members
- Multiple post-1985 ex-members
Legal cases & controversies
- 1978 Powelton Village confrontation
- 1985 Philadelphia bombing
Evidence by BITE axis
- All members take 'Africa' surname
- Compound communal living
- Children present in armed confrontations
- Total submission to John Africa
- John Africa's Guidelines authoritative
- Outside society framed as 'the System'
- Back-to-nature framework
- Founder's absolute authority
- Children integrated into political/religious confrontations
- Severance from non-MOVE family
Timeline
- 1972MOVE founded by John Africa
- 1978Powelton Village confrontation; officer killed; MOVE 9 imprisoned
- 1985-05-13Philadelphia police bomb Osage Avenue compound; 11 die
Sources
- John Anderson & Hilary Hevenor, 'Burning Down the House' (1987)
- Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission Report (1986)
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.
Recovery resources
See the full curated list at /resources.