25 Years Ago: Philadelphia Police Bomb Group's HQ

[rbeau30]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4651126

From a Helicopter! Interesting history lesson.

Twenty years ago, Philadelphia's Osage Avenue was the site of a stunning use of force by city police. After a long standoff, police dropped a bomb on the headquarters of a radical group called MOVE, sparking a fire that gutted a neighborhood and left 11 people dead. Five were children.

Well now it is more than 20 years ago, but you get the idea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_cit...f#1985_bombing

[Irving]

This is part of the reading list when one starts researching Ruby Ridge and Waco. The other noteworthy is the Rainbow place.

[rbeau30]

Yeah talk about Militerization of a Police Force. I picked up "Rise of the Warrior Cop" to read this week and weekend, I am sure I will be very entertained.

[crays]

Twenty years ago, Philadelphia's Osage Avenue was the site of a stunning use of force by city police. After a long standoff, police dropped a bomb on the headquarters of a radical group called MOVE, sparking a fire that gutted a neighborhood and left 11 people dead. Five were children.

I'm not 100% convinced that the satchel charge was the primary cause for the fire. I am of a mind that the fire may have been set inside, as a strategic measure by the MOVE folks to garner support against the city/PD, and it went horribly wrong. Still, the bomb was a 4lb satchel charge of tovex (?) and C4. Dropped on a row house, in a crowded Philly neighborhood. Wow.

[SuperiorDG]

For those with netflixs

http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/70274329?trkid=13462061

[Aloha_Shooter]

Y'know, it's lovely people keep blaming Philadelphia PD for that and no one points out MOVE was storing hundreds of gallons of gasoline on the roof or shooting at firemen who tried to show up. I was attending college in Philadelphia at that time frame and I'm really tired of people making MOVE out to be some kind of blameless victims and the Philly PD out to be Brown Shirts or something like that. These are the same pickle-heads supporting Mumia Abu-Jamal.

[Great-Kazoo]

People also forget, or not old enough to remember the Philly police cheif and mayor challenged toe Move & Black Panthers to a gunfight.

[rbeau30]

Y'know, it's lovely people keep blaming Philadelphia PD for that and no one points out MOVE was storing hundreds of gallons of gasoline on the roof or shooting at firemen who tried to show up. I was attending college in Philadelphia at that time frame and I'm really tired of people making MOVE out to be some kind of blameless victims and the Philly PD out to be Brown Shirts or something like that. These are the same pickle-heads supporting Mumia Abu-Jamal.

I am not in agreement with either side... Actually.

This story is supposed to invoke some ideas in what could have been done better. Because I AM assuming the PD did not willy nilly come to the conclusion, "lets drop a bomb on it!" And if they already knew that the folks were storing hundreds of gallons of gas on the roof in which they dropped the bomb on (satchel charge whatever). A 'bomb' is a noun describing a device used as a weapon that explodes and 'To bomb' is a verb describing the action of dropping, hurling or to explode such device, so the title is accurate.


Another Edit: One of the horrible things about being a servant of the public is that it is the public's right to discuss the actions of these folks. I hope that the subsequent discussion stays constructive.

[Irving]

No statement on MOVE from me either.

[crays]

Y'know, it's lovely people keep blaming Philadelphia PD for that and no one points out MOVE was storing hundreds of gallons of gasoline on the roof or shooting at firemen who tried to show up...

I'm not 100% convinced that the satchel charge was the primary cause for the fire. I am of a mind that the fire may have been set inside, as a strategic measure by the MOVE folks to garner support against the city/PD...