May 14th: MOVE 11

The MOVE Organization was a black liberation group whose members adopted the last name AFrica, and promoted a back-to nature lifestyle. They were based in Philadelphia. They were something of a primitivist group, who promoted the hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

There were 2 instances where the Philadelphia Police confronted them- once in 1978 and once in 1985. In 1978 police came to evict the MOVE members from their communal house. During the incident, there was a shootout. One pig was killed. 7 other pigs, 5 firefighters, 3 MOVE members, and 3 bystanders were injured.

9 MOVE members were found guilty of 3rd degree murder. THEY ARE STILL IN PRISON. 7 of the 9 became eligible for parole in 2008, but have been denied. They come up for parole every year.

On May 13, 1985 the Philadelphia Police Department again tried to evict the MOVE organization from their new house, based on neighbor complaints over things like Bullhorn announcements and compost piles. When the MOVE members refused to leave the police attacked the house with tear gas, and the fire department sprayed it with water cannons. After that a burst of gunfire came from the house, which resulted in 90 minutes of return fire from the police- thousands of rounds were shot at the house. Then, the  Philadelphia Police dropped a BOMB on MOVE headquarters. The bomb set the house, and eventually an entire city block on fire.

John Africa, 5 other adults, and 5 CHILDREN died in the fire. There were only 2 surviving children.

The city was found to have overreacted, and money was paid out to a survivor and relative of someone who died. However, there does not appear to have been any culpability given to individual police involved- none of them have served jail time for the 11 murders.

May 7th: George Jackson

George Jackson was serving a prison sentence when he became politically active. He first studied socialism, and then joined the Black Panthers. He wrote 2 books, Blood in My Eye and Soledad Brother,  while in prison which gained him international attention.

In January of 1970 he was convicted of killing a prison guard within the Soledad prison, in retaliation for the shooting death of 3 black inmates. He and 2 others were moved to solitary confinement, and became known as the Soledad brothers.

Free Movie Screening and Workshop- March 12th

Prison Town U.S.A. Movie Screening and Letter Writing
The Anarchist Black Cross Movie Series
Host:
Richmond Anarchist Black Cross
Type:
Meetings – Club/Group Meeting
Network:
Global
Date:
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Time:
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Location:
The William Byrd Community House
Street:
Cherry Street
City/Town:
Richmond, VA

Phone:
8043000023
Email:
xveganarchistrvax@gmail.com
Description
Come join the Richmond Anarchist Black Cross every other Thursday to watch movies related to the topics of the prison industrial system and political prisoners. This event happens at the William Byrd Community Center in Oregon Hill, near Cherry and Idlewood.

This week, the film is Prison Town U.S.A.