Mike Africa, Jr. A voice for the children of prisoners
I embody “Never Give Up” and I want to show you how to do the same.
Mike Africa, Jr. A voice for the children of prisoners
I embody “Never Give Up” and I want to show you how to do the same.
My Family
Revolution In My Blood
My family created the MOVE Organization. John Africa, the founder of MOVE was my great-uncle. My grandmother and great-aunt Louise were "Ministers of Communication" for the group. MOVE is arguably the most revolutionary organization from Philadelphia. Before Black Lives Matter, Earth First and PETA there was MOVE. Our dreadlocks predates Whoopi Goldberg. Our raw food diet was before Tabitha Brown.
MOVE protested injustice jail sentences, animal cruelty environmental pollution.... MOVE members got arrested hundreds of times from 1972-1981 and my parents, grandmother and other family members were at the heart of the arrests. Since the start of MOVE in 72', members have collectively served nearly 500 years in prison.
Parents Ona Move!
The culmination of years of protests and confrontations with police resulted in the police raiding our house with hundreds of police, firemen and and high-powered weapons. A shootout ensued and when the smoke cleared a policeman was dead. MOVE was found guilty of the murder. My parents, my uncle Chuck and 6 other members were convicted of third-degree murder and sentenced to 30-100 years for the death of officer James Ramp.
The MOVE Bombing
After 7 years of protesting for the release of imprisoned fellow members, the culmination of another confrontation ended with 11 MOVE members dead. On May 13th 1985 Philadelphia police went to MOVE's house at 6221 Osage Ave. The said mission was to serve bench warrants on 4 MOVE members. The police arrived by the hundreds with bullets in the thousands. After firing over 10,000 rounds of ammunition without successfully killing all members the police dropped a bomb. The bomb ignited a fire. As the people tried to escape the inferno they were met with police gunfire. 6 adults and 5 children were murdered.
Kevin Hart Podcast
Featuring Mike Africa, Jr. as he tells his experience about the MOVE Bombing in the 'Summer or 85"