Nov 17, 2024 Story by: Publisher
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Another tragic chapter in the legacy of the 1985 MOVE bombing has surfaced, as the remains of a child victim were recently discovered at the Penn Museum.
The bombing, carried out by the city of Philadelphia against the Black liberation organization MOVE, killed 11 people, including five children. City officials at the time justified their actions by citing complaints and labeling the group a security threat.
This week’s discovery of remains belonging to a child has caused immense pain for the victim’s family, particularly for Janet Africa.
“I am hurt to the bone as my whole family is,” Janet Africa told Action News.
Janet’s 12-year-old daughter, Delisha, was among the bombing victims. At the time of the attack, Janet and several other MOVE members were incarcerated. She was told that her daughter’s remains had been handed over to relatives.
However, it was revealed this week that the remains had been at the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum all along. Museum staff made the discovery during a routine inventory on Tuesday.
“The things we heard they did to our family’s remains are horrifying,” Janet said.
This is not the first time institutions have been found in possession of remains from the MOVE bombing. In 2021, the University of Pennsylvania admitted to keeping the bones of at least one victim. Additionally, a box of remains was uncovered at Philadelphia’s medical examiner’s office, and Princeton University was found to have used victims’ remains.
Efforts are underway to return these remains to the families, including Janine Africa, whose son was one of the five children killed in the bombing.
“This is just an act of vengeance and hate,” said Janine Africa.
In response to the recent discovery, the Penn Museum issued a statement acknowledging the institution’s responsibility to confront its history. “Confronting our institutional history requires ever-evolving examination of how we can uphold museum practices to the highest ethical standards,” the statement read.
Despite apologies from institutions, the family is seeking a different form of justice. They are calling for the release of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a journalist and activist whom they believe was wrongfully convicted of murder.
“They wouldn’t even let our family rest in peace,” said Janet Africa.
The family believes that freeing Abu-Jamal would help restore some measure of justice after decades of suffering and betrayal. Source: 6 ABC
