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EVENT POSTPONED: Welcome Delbert Africa & MOVE 9 to NYC!
3-10-2020: EVENT POSTPONED DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER UPDATES.
Sat., March 14, 2020 • 5-8 pm
Holyrood Episcopal Church,
715 W. 179 St., NYC
take A train to 181 St. – see map/directions
For more info contact: 347-641-2773 & 617-388-5445 &
https://www.facebook.com/events/holyrood-episcopal-church-iglesia-santa-cruz/a-peoples-victory-celebration-of-the-release-of-the-move-9/191258728630876/
Chuck Sims Africa freed!
Final jailed Move 9 member released from prison
Chuck Africa is free! Welcomed by family Chuck in prison, 18
Welcome Home, Chuck, 60 Years Strong!
Birthday Celebration!
Sat., April 4, 2020
4 – 7 pm
Darby Recreation Center, 1020 Ridge Ave., Darby, PA 19023
See map/directions. More info. RSVP.
Reprinted from The Guardian, Philadelphia, Friday, February 7, 2020.
Article by Ed Pilkington
One of the great open wounds of the black liberation struggle of the 1970s has finally been healed with the release of the last member of the Move 9, the group of radicals rounded up in a Philadelphia police siege in 1978 and held behind bars for more than four decades.
Chuck Sims Africa, 59, walked free from the Fayette state correctional institution in La Belle, Pennsylvania, on Friday morning. The youngest of the incarcerated group, he has been in custody since shortly after he turned 18.
It takes a lot to rebuild a life that has been stolen since August 8th, 1978. We want to make this transition as smooth as possible, and ensure he has all the basic necessities to get established on the outside. Additionally, Chuck has been valiantly fighting cancer from within prison. Now that he is out, he can receive holistic care and some funds will go towards these expenses.
Chuck appreciates all the support we’ve given over the past four decades, and just needs a little more to kick start his new life! Please give him a warm welcome home and help him to get settled.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-chuck-africa-rebuild
His freedom marked his reunion with his family for the first time in almost 42 years. It was also historic, as it closed a chapter that had remained unfinished since the black power movement erupted in the late 1960s.
Alongside the Black Panthers, Philadelphia’s Move organization was central to the volatile and at times violent struggle for black equality that lasted until the 1980s.
Members of the organization regarded themselves – and still do to this day – as part of a family dedicated to race equality, with all members taking the last name “Africa.” Part Panthers and part eco-hippies, they also had a commitment to environmental justice that was ahead of its time.
Mike Africa Jr, the son of two of the Move 9, said Chuck’s release put an end to a long and grueling campaign. “We will never have to shout ‘Free the Move 9!’ ever again. It’s been 41 years, and now we’ll never have to say it.”
For Mike Africa, who is also Chuck’s nephew, the release was especially poignant. He was born in a cell five weeks after his mother, Debbie Sims Africa, Chuck’s sister, was rounded up in the 1978 siege and incarcerated – she gave birth to him unbeknown to the prison guards and kept him hidden with her in the cell for the first few days of his life.
The Guardian began investigating the prolonged imprisonment of the Move 9 in 2018 as part of an examination into black power behind bars. At that time all the surviving members of the group were still in custody in various Pennsylvania prisons.
Members of the group described in letters, emails and prison interviews how they had endured so many years inside while keeping their spirits high. Janine Phillips Africa said that she raised therapy dogs in her cell and grew vegetables in the prison yard, avoiding birthdays or holidays that reminded her of the passage of time.
“The years are not my focus,” she wrote in a letter to the Guardian. “I keep my mind on my health and the things I need to do day by day.”
Delbert Orr Africa said: “We’ve suffered the worst that this system can throw at us – decades of imprisonment, loss of loved ones. So we know we are strong.”
Soon after the Guardian began its investigation, the seven surviving members of the group began to be released on parole. First up was Debbie Sims Africa, set free in June 2018. “We are peaceful people,” she said as she stepped out of Cambridge Springs prison.
Then the other six began to emerge, one after the other like falling dominoes:
- Mike Africa Sr, October 2018
- Janine Phillips Africa and Janet Holloway Africa, May 2019
- Eddie Goodman Africa, June 2019
- Delbert Orr Africa, January 2020
Chuck Sims Africa completes the set.
The Move 9 were arrested following a massive police siege of their collective headquarters and home in Powelton Village, Philadelphia, on 8 August 1978. Hundreds of police officers in Swat teams armed with machine guns, teargas, bulldozers and water cannons surrounded the property following a long standoff with city authorities that saw the group as a threat to the community.
The siege culminated in a police shootout in which Move members allegedly returned fire though they denied doing so. A police officer, James Ramp, was killed in the crossfire.
Nine members were arrested and held jointly responsible for Ramp’s death despite forensic evidence showing he was killed with a single bullet. In 1980 the nine were convicted of third-degree murder and lesser offenses and each sentenced to 30 years to life.
Two of the nine – Merle and Phil Africa – died in prison. The remaining seven fought for many years to convince parole authorities that they were safe to be let out, pointing to clean discipline sheets in prison.
Over the past two years, there have been no security incidents relating to any of the paroled individuals.
Wilson Goode, former mayor of Philadelphia, wrote to the parole board to support Chuck Africa’s bid for freedom. He said: “His release will reunite a family after 40 years and I am convinced he will be a positive contributing voice to the Philadelphia community.”
Goode, the first black mayor of Philadelphia, was in that position on 13 May 1985 when the second disaster relating to Move occurred. Following another prolonged bout of acrimony between the organization and its neighbors and city authorities, the decision was taken forcibly to evict the group from its latest headquarters, then in Osage Avenue.
Another shootout broke out, and when that failed to flush them out police dropped incendiary bombs from a helicopter on to the roof of the building. A fire ensued which was allowed to spread, eventually razing to the ground 61 homes in the overwhelmingly African American neighborhood.
Eleven people in the Move house, including five children, died in the inferno. Chuck Africa’s cousin, Frank, was among the adults who were killed.
All the paroled members of the Move 9 are now preparing to mark the 35th anniversary of the tragedy. For the first time they will be able to commemorate the event and the relatives and peers they lost outside a prison cell.
A huge THANK YOU to The Guardian for their steadfast coverage of the MOVE 9. Original article.
Delbert Africa Free on Parole!
Delbert Africa of the MOVE organization was freed from prison after 42 years on Saturday! In a joyful scene, he was reunited with daughter, Yvonne, and MOVE family on Sat., January 18, 2020. He is 73 years old and just spent 4 decades in harsh Pennsylvania prisons.
From Yvonne, Delbert’s daughter
My father, Delbert Orr Africa, was a political prisoner from the MOVE Organization that has been incarcerated for 41 years finally got paroled on Saturday, January 18th, but I have to have some major things in place in order to ensure he’s re-acclimated (e.g. health insurance, housing, etc). I would greatly appreciate your financial support by donating to my GoFundMe campaign for my father.
Delbert and Yvonne MOVE family welcomes Delbert home Pam Africa welcomes Delbert home Delbert Africa. Still standing strong for John Africa!
Donate to Our Freed Warriors!
After 41 years in prison, they need help setting up a home in the free world. Show your appreciation for them with a donation.
Donate to Eddie Africa
https://fundrazr.com/eddie-africa
Donate to Janine & Janet Africa
https://fundrazr.com/janet-janine
Donate to Debbie & Mike Sr. Africa
https://www.gofundme.com/help-debbie-amp-mike-rebuild
Remember Ramona Africa with your donations
https://www.gofundme.com/helpsaveramonaafrica
NYC Welcomes Home Our Women Warriors, Janet and Janine Africa!
Friday, July 19, 2019,
7-9pm
The People’s Forum,
320 W. 37th St., NYC.
Take A,C,E to Port Authority and walk north to 37th St. and west 1.5 blocks to #320, see map. Light Supper. Sponsored by the Free Mumia Coalition & Campaign to Bring Mumia Home. Call 212-330-8029 for more info.
Press Conference–
Date: Fri., February 21, 2019,
Time: 10 am,
Location: Philadelphia Student Union,
501 South St.; Philadelphia, PA 19143,
On Friday, February 21st, Eddie Africa, 69, one of the MOVE 9, was released from Phoenix prison in Pennsylvania–more than a decade after he became eligible for parole. Eddie and his lawyers will be at this press conference. Eddie is reunited with his mother, 90, four surviving children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. The cases of Delbert and Chuck Africa, the two remaining members of the MOVE 9 still imprisoned will be discussed as well.
Free Delbert Africa
ONA MOVE
Delbert Orr Africa #AM4985 was 32 years old when he was wrongfully imprisoned along with 8 other men & women. His “crime” was being a part of an organization against corrupt government, racism and the degradation of our people. He is now 73 years old, having served nearly 42 years for a crime none of them committed. He has been eligible for parole since 2008 but has continually been denied because of his political views.
Del has 8 codefendants. Two died in prison (Phil Africa and his wife, Merle), and five have been released from prison onto parole just between Fall 2018 and Spring 2019. It’s past the time that Delbert should be coming home from prison. Just like others from the MOVE 9 are thriving, so should Delbert Orr Africa have the same opportunity.
Our community has supported those who came home to excel and we are committed to doing the same for Del so that he can excel as well. From having one of his daughters murdered during the bombing of MOVE Headquarters by the government to having his eldest daughter battling breast cancer, it’s overdue for him to be with his family.
Eddie Africa Paroled Fri., June 21st! Press Conf. June 27.
Early Friday morning joyous MOVE family and friends came to bring Eddie Africa home after 40 years of imprisonment.
Press Conference
Thurs., June 27th
10 am
Philadelphia Student Union
501 South St.
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Now the fight remains to free the last two imprisoned MOVE members: Delbert and Chuck Africa. Send them cards of solidarity and love and stay tuned for more actions.
Free Delbert Africa Free Chuck Africa
Janine and Janet Africa Are Free!
Mike Africa Jr.
Friday, May 24, 2019
For over 40 years, we have been immersed in a fight that has been long and arduous. But thanks to the support locally from the MOVE family following the teaching of John Africa, thanks to our supporters from all over the world, and our lawyers Brad Thomson and Bret Grote, we are two steps closer to freeing all of the MOVE 9. Thank you to everyone who has ever supported the freedom for the MOVE 9.
Free all political prisoners!!!
On the MOVE
LONG LIVE REVOLUTION
LONG LIVE JOHN AFRICA
#nevergiveup
Press Release from The Abolitionist Law Center and People’s Law Office
The Abolitionist Law Center and the People’s Law Office are proud to share that Janet Holloway Africa and Janine Phillips Africa of the MOVE 9 have been released from state custody after more than forty years of incarceration. Earlier this morning [May 24, 2019], the MOVE sisters were finally released on parole from SCI Cambridge Springs and are now with family and friends. The sisters have been battling for their freedom after being consistently denied parole for a decade despite an impeccable disciplinary record and extensive record of mentorship and community service during their time in prison.
Following their 2018 parole denial, attorneys from Abolitionist Law Center and People’s Law Office filed petitions for habeas corpus seeking their release from prison. The habeas petitions challenged their parole denials on the grounds that the decisions were arbitrary and lacking in any evidence that Janet or Janine presented a risk to public safety. Under pressure from litigation and with a court date for May 28 looming, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (board) granted Janet and Janine parole on May 14, 2019, just one day after the anniversary of the notorious May 13, 1985 bombing of the MOVE home.
“The release of Janet and Janine is a victory not only for them and their loved ones, but also for the MOVE Organization and the movement to free all political prisoners,” said attorney Brad Thomson of People’s Law Office. “Janet and Janine were excellent candidates for parole. They have been described by DOC staff as model prisoners and neither of them has had a single disciplinary incident in over twenty years. While in prison, they have participated in community fundraisers, and social programs, including training service dogs. They are remarkable women to deserve to be free.”
Like Debbie and Mike Africa, who were released last year, Janet and Janine are now able to experience holding their loved ones outside of prison walls for the first time in decades. The release of Janet and Janine after forty years is the culmination of the MOVE organization, public support, legal action, and policy changes.
Three other members of the MOVE 9 remain incarcerated (Chuck, Delbert and Eddie Africa), while two others (Merle Africa and Phil Africa) died in custody. Abolitionist Law Center and People’s Law Office represent Chuck, Delbert and Eddie in the struggle for their freedom. To support the fight, you may donate to the MOVE9 Legal Fund.
Press Contact: Mike Africa Jr., MikeAfricaJr [at] gmail.com
Brad Thomson bradjaythomson[at]gmail.com 773-297-9689