Ramona Africa on Uprising Radio and new MOVE article

UPRISING RADIO: Guinness World Records Rewrites History In a new interview with Uprising Radio (KPFK Los Angeles), Ramona Africa gives an update on The MOVE organization's efforts challenging The Guinness World Records 2008 book's labeling of the May 13, 1985 police bombing of MOVE's home (resulting in the deaths of 6 adults and 5 children), as a "mass suicide." Ramona explains that Guinness now says that the section on MOVE will be deleted from the next printing. MOVE wants Guinness to go further and make a public statement that they were wrong about both the "mass suicide," and the description of MOVE as a "cult."

The first issue of Philadelphia's newest independent publication, Two-One-Five Magazine, has just been released, and features a new essay by Hans Bennett: "May 13, 1985: An 'Unconscionable' Act." The essay features a new interview with journalist Linn Washington, Jr. (then working for The Daily News), who witnessed MOVE member Jerry Africa (not inside 6221 Osage) attempting to negotiate with Mayor Goode during the afternoon of the May 13 standoff, before the bomb was dropped. He wanted to tell Goode that MOVE would disengage from the confrontation if Goode would agree to an investigation of the Aug. 8, 1978-related MOVE convictions. Jerry Africa was supported by civil rights activist Randolph Means and former Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Williams, who at the time was the Democratic Party’s nominee for Philadelphia District Attorney. The three of them repeatedly tried to call Goode on the telephone, but he would not take their call. Washington immediately called the story into The Daily News, but it was never published. Later that afternoon, the bomb was dropped, the subsequent fire was allowed to burn, and police shot at MOVE members when they attempted to escape. Read the full essay (pgs. 80-85) online, or pick up the magazine at your local cafe or bar.

LISTEN TO SHOW! For more, see MOVE's website, past Philly IMC coverage, a radio-essay by Mumia Abu-Jamal, and the recent MOVE documentary narrated by Howard Zinn.

Guiness World Records Rewrites History, by UprisingRadio.org --Published on 4 Jan 2008

Listen to this segment | the entire program

GUEST: Ramona Africa, Minister of Information for MOVE organization

Page 123 of the 2008 Guiness Book of World Records lists the 1985 bombing of the MOVE organization in Philadelphia as the sixth most deadly mass suicide in recent history. The entry is listed under the section, “Mass Suicides” (additionally MOVE is listed as a cult under the section, “Cults, Fans and Followers”). However, according to most credible historical accounts, the fire bombing of a residence that housed several members of MOVE more than 22 years ago was initiated by the Philadelphia Police. Five adults and six children were killed and, despite two grand jury investigations and a commission which found that top city officials were negligent, no one from the city was charged with any crimes. The only adult survivor of the bombing, Ramona Africa, served seven years in prison on a riot charge. She was eventually awarded $500,000 for pain and suffering, and for disfigurement. Today Ramona is MOVE’s Minister of Information. She has started a vigorous campaign calling on the Guiness Book of World Records to correct the information in their latest edition.

Visit the petition online at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/OnaMove

For more information, visit www.oneamove.org.