home move

MOVE is an organization formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1972 by John Africa (Vincent Leaphart) and Donald Glassey described by CNN as "a loose-knit, mostly black group whose members all adopted the surname Africa, advocated a back-to-nature lifestyle and preached against technology. " The dreadlocked members also disrupted meetings and lectures by personalities as varied as Jane Fonda and Buckminster Fuller.

Confrontations With Police

Powelton Village, 1978

Glassey owned a large twin house at 33rd and Pearl Sts. in the Powelton Village neighborhood of Philadelphia, and it became the first home base for MOVE. The members erected a fence along the front and sides of the house and established a curb-side carwash business. Neighbors allegedly began to complain about the sanitation aspects of their back to nature philosophy and their use of bullhorns to lecture and admonish authority. Countdown to Your Home Move Day.

MOVE refused access to health inspectors and other state and city officials. The situation escalated until the members one evening marched along the fencing carrying rifles. In response, Mayor Frank Rizzo ordered a blockade of the immediate neighborhood, in order to prevent food and supplies from reaching MOVE and thus force the members out of the house. However, since the blockade was announced in advance, supporters were able to bring in large supplies of food. (It was also later discovered that MOVE members had dug a tunnel through to Powelton Ave. , outside the police perimeter. Your home move may seem far away right now, but before you know it, a Graebel Driver will be knocking on your door, ready to load the moving truck.