Welcome to the Empire Files podcast. This is Abby Martin.

This is the audio version of each episode of the Empire Files hosted on Telesaur English.

You can watch every episode at the Empirefiles.tv.

30 years ago, the Philadelphia Police Department carried out one of the greatest acts of police terror and U.S. history right where I'm

standing. The target was an organization called Move, nearly all-black revolutionary group.

On May 13, 1985, police set an example for all radicals nationwide by bombing the move home,

full of innocent men, women, and children, trapping them so that 11 people burned

alive.

I sat down with the only adult survivor of the move bombing, Ramona Africa, to hear her

story, one of the hidden people's histories of life in American Empire.

The move organization was born in Philadelphia during a time of revolt.

People of all nationalities were joining revolutionary groups and challenging the core structures of empire.

War, racism, and inequality.

In the tradition of the 1950s civil rights struggle, armed self-defense against police and vigilante terror was also taken up by oppressed groups in the 60s and 70s.

It was also a time of severe political repression, with wanton police brutality and co-intel pro employed against black radicals.

Led by founder John Africa, Moves' philosophy was to challenge the abuse of all forms of life,

including animals in nature, and held regular non-violent protests confronting everything from Dow Chemical to the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Under their philosophy of back-to-nature communalism, they liberally grew their hair and didn't conform to societal

norms. Composting, caring for stray animals, and living without technology made them the target

of ridicule and violence. They were called dirty hippies, cultists, and dangerous terrorists by the media.

But despite the smear campaign, many were inspired by Moves' message, commitment, and actions.

Ramona Africa tells the story of how she joined the group.

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