NationStates Jolt Archive

20 years ago today former Philadelphia mayor Wilson Goode gave the order to drop a bomb onto a suburban Philadelphia rowhouse that was the headquarters for a group called MOVE. He then prevented fire trucks and ambulances from reaching the scene for one full hour. Several children under age 13 burned to death in the MOVE headquarters, and one whole city block was burned down. What was MOVE's crime? They made a nuisance of themselves by keeping livestock and being noisy.

20 years ago today former Philadelphia mayor Wilson Goode gave the order to drop a bomb onto a suburban Philadelphia rowhouse that was the headquarters for a group called MOVE. He then prevented fire trucks and ambulances from reaching the scene for one full hour. Several children under age 13 burned to death in the MOVE headquarters, and one whole city block was burned down. What was MOVE's crime? They made a nuisance of themselves by keeping livestock and being noisy.


"livestock" and "noisy" are such vague terms

"livestock" and "noisy" are such vague terms
Goats and loudspeakers with political messages at all hours.

I can understand the police responding, but why would you bomb a rowhouse in a residential neighborhood and then prevent firemen and ambulances from responding? It was clearly a massacre.

Can you define 'bomb'? Are we talking about a land-based explosive device like C-4 or Semtex? Or are we looking at some sort of aircraft-based weapon?

I have heard of this, but dont know that much about it. It sounds like something that would happen in another country, not the US

As I recall, the police showed up to evict them or cite them for something.

Then the people in the building opened fire on the whole neighborhood with large caliber weapons.

Granted, it's overkill to drop a bomb on the armored pillbox on top of the building (which was impervious to police gunfire). Especially in the middle of a populated neighborhood.

I think that one of those firefighting planes that can drop tons of water at once would make an interesting addition to the local police department's capabilities. When confronted by idiots on top of a building, you can bomb them with several tons of water, and watch them get washed into the street.

No danger of fire, either.

At lower levels, a water cannon would be useful. Germans are fond of water cannon these days. You can also add stuff to the water, to make things very slippery or very smelly.

The bomb was a jury-rigged charge of C-4.

that puts a different spin on things. I didnt know a mayor had that type of power. Its not like he had to make a spur of the moment decision...

Can you define 'bomb'? Are we talking about a land-based explosive device like C-4 or Semtex? Or are we looking at some sort of aircraft-based weapon?
Dropped from a helicopter. I've heard it was an incendiary bomb, but on the radio today they mentioned that it contained C4. From the resulting fire I'd lean toward incendiary bomb.

Dropped from a helicopter. I've heard it was an incendiary bomb, but on the radio today they mentioned that it contained C4. From the resulting fire I'd lean toward incendiary bomb.
It was about 30 pounds of C-4 in an athletic bag.

The MOVE house had been doused with gasoline by its occupants prior to the bomb being dropped. They also had hundreds of pounds of smokeless powder and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in the house.

The bomb ignited the gas and the whole place lit up like a Roman candle. The adjacent buildings then burned to the ground (the whole neighborhood).

It was about 30 pounds of C-4 in an athletic bag.

The MOVE house had been doused with gasoline by its occupants prior to the bomb being dropped. They also had hundreds of pounds of smokeless powder and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in the house.

The bomb ignited the gas and the whole place lit up like a Roman candle. The adjacent buildings then burned to the ground (the whole neighborhood).
Don't forget that the MOVE people had doused the roofs of the neighbors' houses with gasoline as well.

It was about 30 pounds of C-4 in an athletic bag.

The MOVE house had been doused with gasoline by its occupants prior to the bomb being dropped. They also had hundreds of pounds of smokeless powder and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition in the house.

The bomb ignited the gas and the whole place lit up like a Roman candle. The adjacent buildings then burned to the ground (the whole neighborhood).

Well, though I sympathise with the losses caused by the incident, it would appear that MOVE were hardly blameless here; even without the bomb, they seemed to want to die - dousing their house in gasoline and opening fire on people and police, as well as emergency workers does invite return fire; said returned fire would no doubt have ignited the gasoline, killing them anyway. The bomb merely speeded up the process.

The mayor gave the order to drop a bomb on the house.
He also delayed the arrival of emergency personel for an hour.

They could have waited out the MOVE members. They could have allowed firemen and ambulances in to minimize the destruction and death.

The police could have refrained from firing at the exits while the building burned.

Nobody's blameless here, but the mayor and the police should act more responsibly.