Osage Avenue (May 13th 2015)
©Jonathan Lère
P.O. BOX 19709
Philadelphia
PA 19143
Chapter 1
The MOVE Organization surfaced in Philadelphia during the early 1970's. Characterized by dreadlock hair, the adopted surname "Africa," a principled unity, and an uncompromising commitment to their belief, members practiced the teachings of MOVE founder JOHN AFRICA.
Chapter 2
Throughout the 1970's, Frank Rizzo was the premier figure in Philadelphia government. He started as a street cop and rose through the ranks, eventually serving as Police Commissioner from 1967-71.
Chapter 3
On Tuesday, August 8th, hundreds of cops in flak jackets and riot helmets surrounded the 33rd Street location at dawn and ordered MOVE to surrender.
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
After May 13th, MOVE would forever be a part of Philadelphia history.
Thousands of features, editorials, articles, and interviews were followed by documentaries, books, and plans for a feature-length movie. A decade of biased and distorted stories spawned a new generation of misinformation, though the truth did begin to emerge here and there. To set the record straight, MOVE supporters published
20 YEARS ON THE MOVE in late 1991.
As Wilson Goode's second term ended, Frank Rizzo made another bid to get his old job back, but died of a heart attack July 16, 1991. In January of 1992, Ed Rendell became the mayor of Philadelphia and faced the daunting task of refur-bishing the city's poor image, tarnished by corruption scandals, serial killers, a bankruptcy crisis, and the stigma of being "the city that dropped the bomb." In 2003, Rendell became the governor of Pennsylvania. In 1994, Justice Rolf Larson (who had remarked during MOVE's August 8th murder trial, "They ought to hang those niggers in cages from the ceiling and try them that way.") was removed from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for improperly obtaining prescription drugs. Former Philadelphia DA Ron Castille was elected to fill the vacancy. Former judge Lynne Abraham (who had signed MOVE warrants in 1977 and 1985) became the city's new District Attorney.
Years of sacrifice in blood and lives had earned MOVE a formidable credibility and integrity that kept police from attempting the intimidation and harassment tactics of the early days when members were arrested and beaten constantly. While a lot of cops still wished all MOVE members were dead, killing the intangible legacy of Osage Avenue could never be accomplished with guns and bombs. The city switched to a tactic of focusing attention elsewhere in the hopes that government culpability in the tragedy would be quietly forgotten and history books could be censored accordingly. MOVE countered this new ploy with the same dedication and commitment they applied to past confrontations. Forums, demonstrations, and other public events were held yearly on the anniversaries of August 8th and May 13th. Members keep busy with increasing requests to speak to students, community groups, political activists, and interviewers across the country as well as around the world.
According to the book "20 years on the Move"
Translation : Claude GUILLAUMAUD for "Just Justice"
Legends Photos : Béatrice KOULAKSSIS and Nadège ARNAULT
David JOYEUX (development)
and Jonathan LERE (webdesign)
Drowings of Move 9 : Tinted Justice Collective
1&1 Internet AG
Brauerstr. 48
76135 Karlsruhe
Allemagne
Thanks to Ramona Africa and the Move family