In one of the most heinous acts of police violence against Black Americans, Philadelphia cops killed 11 people (including 5 kids) and left hundreds more homeless. But the case is mostly forgotten now. We get the inside scoop on the 1985 MOVE bombing - and why it’s relevant today with our bloated and growing police state. 

SHOW NOTES

Guest: Linn Washington Jr.

Linn Washington Jr. is an award-winning investigative journalist and professor at Temple University. His reporting focuses on the news media, social justice, race, and law. He also served as Special Assistant to the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Linn is the leading authority on the Philadelphia Police Department’s bombing of the MOVE house on May 13, 1985. He was on the scene covering the tragedy.

MORE ABOUT MOVE:

• “MOVE: Untangling The Tragedy” (Linn’s great podcast series)
• The 1985 MOVE Massacre: When Cops Bombed Philadelphia (documentary)
• On A Move: Philadelphia's Notorious Bombing And A Native Son's Lifelong Battle For Justice  (book by Mike Africa Jr.)

TEACHING RESOURCES:

• "On A Move" High School Curriculum
• Zinn Education Project - Philadelphia Police Bomb MOVE
• Middle School Students Memorialized The MOVE Bombing

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[4:29] Origins of MOVE and overview of May 13, 1985 bombing

[7:20] Brutal history of Philadelphia police and pushback from MOVE

[10:46] 1978 starvation blockade of MOVE compound resulted in shootout and nine MOVE members sentenced to prison for 30 to 100 years

[13:10] MOVE’s strategy to free incarcerated members

[17:37] Police Commissioner’s plan to bomb compound and let fire burn

[27:05] Middle school students’ discovery of bombing inspires marker commemorating deaths of children

[31:32] Importance of a free press to inform the public and serve as watchdog on government

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