PHILADELPHIA—May 13th marked the 14th anniversary of a day that will forever disgrace the city. On that day, May 13, 1985, five children and six adults lost their lives when municipal officials decided to bomb an Osage Avenue row house occupied by a back to nature organization called MOVE. The results set in motion a three-pronged disaster for which the city has yet to fully atone.

For the MOVE family, atonement would mean the immediate release of the MOVE 9, who are incarcerated with jail terms of over 100 years and were unconnected with the bombing.

For families that lost homes when a raging fire destroyed all houses on the block where the bomb fell, atonement would represent repairs to the replacement homes they were given.

For Louise James, whose home was bombed and property was taken, the immediate return of her home would help the atonement process.

During a May 13 service at the Church of the Advocate to mark the tragedy, Mario Hardy Africa remarked that the assault was not about neighbors’ complaints, or even warrants police were trying to serve that day. Rather it was connected with the MOVE 9, who were unfairly incarcerated for the murder of a Philadelphia police officer in 1978, he said.

"MOVE people ain’t in prison for committing no crime," he said. "We ain’t criminals. We’re in prison for putting out the truth about this corrupt government, for confronting this lying, murdering government uncompromisingly. Mayor (Wilson) Goode made the statement prior to the bombing that he wanted a permanent end to MOVE."

"MOVE believes in family, truth and love. We need to work to bring the MOVE 9 home," Mario Africa declared.

The other victims in the MOVE tragedy were 61 families who lost their homes to the fire ignited by the bomb. The city has spent over $14 million to rebuild the houses. The houses, built in near record time (eight months), have never been right. A recent inspection of the houses by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found repair costs would be over $1.6 million. According to investigators, "the vast majority of the problems are the result of design and/or construction deficiencies." Neighbors report leaky roofs, cracking bricks, deteriorating siding, substandard

windows and sliding doors, and improper wiring.

The city has promised to have all of the necessary repairs completed before the end of the Rendell administration in January. Many residents are skeptical.

"We want to get this work done quickly and well, and have these complaints addressed," said Kevin Feely, Mayor Rendell’s spokesman. The game plan calls for the city to complete the major repairs and then make cash payoffs to homeowners for small problems.

"We’re just prayerful that this is all going to be completed and go straight through without delay," said Gerald Renfrow, the neighborhood block captain.

The third victim in the disaster is Louise James, owner of the home MOVE occupied and the rebuilt home was held hostage by the Philadelphia police department and the city’s Redevelopment Authority. Her brother was MOVE founder John Africa, who also died that fateful day. Ms. James has fought feverishly to regain ownership of her property, which the city seized after the bombing. She currently has an outstanding claim in U.S. District Court.