August 8th 2018 will mark forty years since the MOVE 9 have been unjustly imprisoned for a crime the entire world knows they did not commit. From the day they were arrested on August 8th 1978, during their trial, the day after they were each sentenced to 30-100 years, during the ten years of the parole process, and the 40 years of being unjustly imprisoned move has always maintained their innocence and their innocence has always shown during this whole forty year period. The reason that they have remained in prison all these years is the same reason why they went to prison in the first place because they are committed MOVE members.
On March 13th 1998 Merle Africa died in Pennsylvania prisons under mysterious circumstances after being unjustly jailed for twenty years. On January 10th 2015 Phil Africa died under mysterious circumstances in Pennsylvania prisons after spending 30 plus years unjustly jailed. Rather than grant parole or release move this system and its officials will rather see MOVE die in prison. While Pennsylvania makes strides in repairing the issue of mass incarceration one of the biggest taints in Pennsylvania’s history of mass incarceration and injustice has not been repaired and that is the issue of the MOVE 9 as it relates to their release from imprisonment.
The parole board has pushed the issue of remorse being shown but the question that we want to ask is has the parole board shown any remorse to the children and grandchildren of the MOVE 9? The fact that several of the MOVE 9 have grandchildren some even great grandchildren that they have only been with on a prison visit is heart wrenching. Where is the remorse from the parole board over the fact that children were torn from their parents arms forty years ago and forced to have a relationship with their parents only through phone calls, letters, and occasional visits which may have lasted only three hours.
On August 5th 2018 we are asking people to join us for an afternoon of resistance for the MOVE 9. First at 10:00am join us for running down the walls a 5k run organized for the MOVE 9 by our brothers and sisters from the Philadelphia anarchist black cross that will take place at Fairmount Park. To register for the run, click here.
Then at 3:00pm join us at the mastery shoemaker high school located 5301 Media Street for an afternoon panel on MOVE that will feature Ramona Africa, Pam Africa, Professor Walter Palmer, Karen Falcon and others.
Then later that evening at the same venue we will be holding our framed in America concert as acts are still being confirmed so far we have the Raw Life Crew, Dell P, Seraiah Nicole and Eli Capella, Jasiri X and A Surprise Headliner. We look forward to seeing everyone on August 5th. Also at this time we are still encouraging people to sign our petition aimed at the United States Justice Department, click here.
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Featured image is from The Good Men Project.
