Throwback Thursday: Philadelphia PD Civil Affairs Report, May 3, 1984
MOVE’s entire narrative is based on their claim that they are targets of excessive police force, and that their issues with neighbors wherever they landed were just the usual city squabbles—like a too-early leaf blower or a trash can blocking a driveway.
Beginning in 1982, neighbors on Osage Avenue weren’t complaining about leaf blowers. They were complaining about the 24/7 loudspeaker bolted to MOVE’s rowhouse, the rats drawn by garbage and raw meat hung on the back fence, and the constant threats of violence.
And then came a 911 call: man on the roof with a gun.
Civil Affairs, detectives, and multiple commanding officers rushed to 6221 Osage.
The armed man—believed to be James Conrad Hampton—left the roof and went inside without incident. But that wasn’t the point. Being seen was the point. It was his assigned ACTIVITY.
Vincent Leaphart (aka John Africa) was escalating toward a showdown. He wanted it on August 8, 1984—the six-year anniversary of MOVE’s first deadly shootout with police, which left a Marine-veteran officer and father dead, seven other first responders wounded by gunfire, and ten MOVE members convicted of third-degree murder.
Police were preparing to act on neighbors’ complaints, but Mayor Wilson Goode told them to hold—because he wanted to avoid another August 8th—and they did.
So Vincent pushed further. His soldiers were instructed, and willing, to kill and be killed for him—for their beloved leader “John Africa, The Coordinator.”
What’s a cult leader gotta do to get the cops to show up to your orchestrated, confrontation-ready row house with guns? Raise the stakes.
Build a bunker. Actually, make it two.
Then make the threats on the loudspeaker undeniable—threaten to kill the Mayor and the President of the United States.
Deliver a letter to the police threatening to burn down the whole block. (listen to hear about this letter)
Nine months later, police were there and ready.
And MOVE was ready to kill—or be killed.
