Thirty-one years ago today [last Friday, May 13], one of the most blatant acts of terrorism was carried out on American soil against American citizens by an American police department. Obviously, this is the one terror attack the government won’t remind you about — and, in fact, would prefer you forget completely.

Who were these radical Americans that the police held in such fear that they would bomb a neighborhood and allow 60+ houses to burn to the ground?

The MOVE Organization is a Philadelphia-based black liberation group that preached revolution and advocated a return to nature lifestyle. They lived communally and vowed to lead a life uninterrupted by the government, police or technology. They were passionate supporters of animal rights and members adopted vegan diets. Members also adopted the surname “Africa.” Often times they would engage in public demonstrations related to issues they deemed important

These guys above against:

“There were nearly 500 police officers gathered at the scene, ludicrously, ferociously well-armed — flak jackets, tear gas, SWAT gear, .50- and .60-caliber machine guns, and an anti-tank machine gun for good measure,” one witness to the events described to NPR. “Deluge guns were pointed from firetrucks. The state police had sent a helicopter. The city had shut off the water and electricity for the entire block. And, we’d come to learn, there were explosives on hand.”

The police deemed it necessary to end this shit once and for all so they went ballistic.

– On that day armed police, the fire department and city officials gathered at the house in an attempt to clear it out and arrest MOVE members who had been indicted for crimes like parole violation and illegal possession of firearms. When police tossed tear gas canisters into the home, MOVE members fired back. In turn, the police discharged their guns.
– Eventually a police helicopter flew over the home and dropped two bombs on the row house. A ferocious blaze ensued.

Our friendly protectors and servers sometimes have to be bombers too.


Busy protecting and serving.

And I leave you with one more statement that says it all

Witness and MOVE members say that when members started to run out of the burning structure to escape a fiery death, police continued to fire their weapons.

This time, they burned down 61 houses, killed 11 people (including five children) and injured dozens. No big deal and nothing to see.

Edit: changed images to 450 width