Philly's fallen heroes: the true injustice surrounding MOVE
Patrick DiMauro
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: Ed-Op
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Zaller's first distortion was that the 1978 MOVE confrontation was a swift, hot-headed storming of the radical group's home by the police. For almost a year, the police tried to negotiate with the cult leaders and had officers camped outside. At this time, MOVE was considered little more than a public nuisance because they were committing health code violations that threatened the well being of their neighbors in the densely populated area. During this standoff, the police even allowed charity groups to deliver food and supplies to the house. Only after the group had reneged on an agreement to vacate the premises did police finally try to evict the tenants.
When the police attempted entry into the building Aug. 8, 1978, the MOVE members opened fire. James Ramp, a 23-year veteran of the force who had also served in World War II and the Korean War, pushed another police officer out of the way when he was struck with a fatal bullet wound. The origin of the bullet is not in question, as Zaller suggests. It was conclusively linked to a .223 caliber rifle that was purchased by Phil Africa. In addition to Officer Ramp being murdered, 10 other police officers and firefighters were wounded by gunfire during the course of this exchange. Afterwards, police found over 2,000 rounds of ammunition stored in the basement of the MOVE residence. They were not exactly the "non-violent" group that Zaller makes them out to be.
Even after their colleagues were shot at, wounded and murdered right before their eyes, the remaining police still managed to apprehend all of the MOVE members without inflicting any type of major injury. All members were taken alive and virtually unharmed so that they could stand trial for the crimes they had committed. I fail to see how human beings could have handled that police action in a more just manner.
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