The MOVE Crisis in Philadelphia: Extremist Groups and Conflict Resolution

by Hizkias Assefa, Paul Wahrhaftig (Contributor)

In 1985, police bombed the Philadelphia community occupied by members of the black counterculture group MOVE (short for “The Movement”).  What began fifteen years earlier as a neighborhood squabble provoked by conflicting lifestyles ended in the destruction of sixty-one homes and the death of eleven residents - five of them children.  Some 250 people were left homeless. Was this tragedy the only solution to the conflict?  Were John Africa and his morally and ecologically idealistic followers “too crazy” to negotiate with? 

The authors interviewed MOVE members and their neighbors, third-party intervenors, and representatives of the Philadelpia administration in the 1970s, and draw on their own knowledge of the field of dispute resolution.  More than simply describing a terrible event, they examine the dynamics of conflict, analyzing attempts at third-party mediation and the possibility of resolution without violence.  Their analytical approach provides insight into other major conflicts, such as the problems of perception and misperception in U.S. - Iranian relations. In an age when terrorism and hostage-taking are regular features on the six o’clock news, their questioning of traditional views on negotiation with “irrational” adversaries is especially important.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

184 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 1988

About the author

Hizkias Assefa is a consultant in conflict resolution and assistant professor in the Graduate Program of LaRoche College, Pittsburgh, specializing in management and international affairs. He is also coauthor of a forthcoming book entitled Extremist Groups and Conflict Resolution―The MOVE Crisis in Philadelphia (1987).

Reviews

[Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly detailed look at the MOVE crisis, from its first occurrence in the late 1970's to the bombing and destruction of several blocks by the city of Philadelphia, some years later. The authors don't adequately explore the context of MOVE at the time, including the Black Panther Party's impact on John Africa, or relationships between Black-led social movements and the police at this time. The portrayal of MOVE as an 'extremist' group is a stretch; their actions escalate in aggression in accordance with the violence of the state, but the police--who fire more than a hundred thousand rounds of ammunition into a residential home and then level 21 blocks--somehow escape being labeled 'extremist.' The authors do a decent job at presenting the city as complicit in failures of negotiations to hold out, but doesn't do very much to explore the interests of the two main parties (MOVE and the city) on a larger, structural scale. Instead, the book focuses mostly on the actions of the parties and their failures.

[Renee King · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good primer on this piece of Philadelphia history.

An examination of events in 1978 that lead up to the Osage Avenue bombing in 1985, and the city's abject failure to settle the conflict and negotiate peace. Previously unknown to me was the number of community and neighborhood groups that were in play as mediators, both for and against the MOVE people. Offers many and varied reasons behind the failed negotiation strategies taken by the city and possible explanations for said failures.

Not a thorough review of the MOVEment, context around the kind of group that was MOVE, who or what was likely influential to MOVE at that time. The reader is not left with a clear picture as to what was happening with the group's inner workings or leadership, although the original mission and vision of the group seems to have been lost once the conflicts began to escalate. The authors do make clear that this small text was not written to be a comprehensive study of MOVE and Philadelphia's tragic response. It was originally intended as a report for the investigative commission on the events, and should be recognized as such. I recommend as a good place to start.

[Sharif · Rating 2 out of 5]

The MOVE group and the City of Philadelphia were the equivalent of two independent nations, complete with the struggle for power and human rights violations. After reading this, I do not feel this tragic history was captured well by the writers who focused more on details rather than perspectives and context.

The main issue in my mind was the inability of the participants to communicate. MOVE’s philosophy was so diametrically opposed to that of the other party, I felt the disputants were talking past each other instead of to one another. The city’s stance was positional thus confrontational, whereas, the neighborhood was focused on interested based issues. For this reason, I believe the key to a peaceful resolution always lie with the original parities (MOVE & the residents) rather that the escalated ones (the police department and city officials).

It is one of America's horrible tragedies that shouldn't be forgotten. We must learn from it and remember it, thus preventing it from ever being repeated.

[Izzy Senechal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to the MOVE conflicts in Philadelphia, but skimming through some of the historical context left more questions than answers for me. I’m aware that the point of this book is to examine what went wrong in conflict intervention efforts between MOVE and the city of Philadelphia, but still… Why didn’t the authors mention that founder John Africa was killed in the Osage Avenue bombing in 1995? What motivated some MOVE members to betray their revolutionary brethren to the police? Why did MOVE, which was originally integrated, become primarily black over time? What is the contemporary situation with MOVE’s activity? Did any city officials receive punishment for authorizing and executing the bombing, which killed 11, including 4 children? I just have a LOT of questions I wish the authors had expanded on.

[Alesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

really interesting to see how local government took conflict resolution steps to handle these terrorists.

[Mary Ann Kierych · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informati it not an easy read for the average person because of all the details

[Black Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely want to read more on this topic

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike much of what I have read about the MOVE conflict, Assefa emphasized the context for the conflict and explored in depth relations among MOVE, neighbors and the city. The book is written as a case study of conflict resolution, but it is also a good way in to the MOVE conflict.

[Kipi (the academic stitcher) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for seeing the processes we are talking about in class played out in real life, but not one I would recommend for pleasure reading.