this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2025
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The 1985 MOVE bombing, locally known by its date, May 13, 1985, was the aerial bombing and destruction of residential homes in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, by the Philadelphia Police Department during an armed standoff with MOVE, a black liberation organization. Philadelphia police were shot at as they attempted to evict MOVE members from a house. Philadelphia police aviators then dropped two explosive devices from a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter onto the roof of the occupied house. For 90 minutes, the Philadelphia Police Department allowed the resulting fire to burn out of control, destroying 61 previously evacuated neighboring homes over two city blocks and leaving 250 people homeless. Six adults and five children were killed in the attack, with one adult and one child surviving who were occupants of the home. A lawsuit in federal court found that the city used excessive force and violated constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

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[โ€“] DrPop@lemmy.world 19 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Didn't the police fire upon them as people were trying to escape as well?

[โ€“] Zombiepirate@lemmy.world 40 points 1 day ago

From the wiki:

The only two MOVE survivors, Birdie Africa, who was 13 at the time, and Ramona Africa, both escaped the house. Police initially said that two men had also run out of the house at the same time and fired at them and that police had returned fire. Ramona Africa said that police fired at those trying to escape. Police said that MOVE members moved in and out of the house shooting at the police. The fire department declared the fire under control at 11:47 p.m.

I would note that police are notorious liars even today when they have body cams.