PHILADELPHIA, May 13, 2020 – Today, as current and former city officials acknowledge the need for a formal apology, many Philadelphians are marking the somber 35th anniversary of the infamous confrontation with the MOVE organization, that culminated in the city-authorized bombing of an occupied residence, which led to the burning of an entire neighborhood and the deaths of 11 people in West Philadelphia. Councilmember Derek Green (At-Large) issued the following statement:
“May 13, 1985 is a day that will remain etched in the minds of those who were directly affected; whose lives were upended and destroyed by this horrifying event. It is a day that will forever remain as a stain on our City’s history.
I believe a formal apology from the City of Philadelphia to everyone impacted by this tragedy is long overdue. 11 of our citizens, including five children, were killed, and 61 houses burned and approximately 250 people became homeless.
Although 35 years has passed, the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. resonate: ‘The time is always right to do the right thing.’”
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