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University of Pennsylvania Discovers Human Remains from MOVE Bombing

Historical artifacts related to the MOVE bombing displayed at the museum.

News Summary

Human remains believed to belong to Delisha Africa, a 12-year-old victim of the 1985 MOVE bombing, have been discovered at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. This finding comes nearly four decades after the tragic police bombing that resulted in the deaths of several individuals and widespread destruction in Philadelphia. The museum has pledged to address these findings transparently, while civil rights attorneys highlight ongoing issues regarding the treatment of victims and their families.

Philadelphia – Human remains believed to be those of Delisha Africa, a 12-year-old victim of the infamous 1985 MOVE bombing, have been unearthed at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. This discovery comes nearly four decades after an incident that resulted in the deaths of six children and five adults when the Philadelphia police bombed the MOVE organization’s headquarters on May 13, 1985.

The bombing ignited a catastrophic fire, which ultimately engulfed more than 60 surrounding row homes and led to the displacement of over 250 local residents. The remains of Delisha Africa were identified during a recent inventory undertaken to prepare thousands of artifacts for new storage facilities at the museum.

This revelation follows earlier acknowledgments from museum officials that they had retained the remains of at least one victim from the 1985 bombing. In 2021, the city informed family members about the existence of a box of remains that had been retained post-autopsy, worsening concerns regarding how victims’ remains have been treated over the years. Following the discovery, the university has stated that it remains unclear why these specific remains were segregated from others that had previously been returned to families. Upon finding the remains, the institution promptly notified Delisha’s family about the discovery.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum has reiterated its commitment to transparency regarding new evidence and to aligning its institutional history with ethical practices related to human remains. Their aim is to reconcile past injustices and improve relationships with affected communities.

However, civil rights attorneys representing Lionell Dotson, whose sister Katricia was also killed in the bombing, argue that there are still significant failures in treating the victims and their families with the respect they deserve. These legal representatives suggest that the latest discovery symbolizes a broader issue of injustices encountered by the Black community in America, particularly surrounding systemic violence and governmental neglect.

The MOVE organization, which was founded in the 1970s and led by John Africa, focused on environmental causes, anti-establishment views, and animal rights, calling for a return to a natural way of living devoid of modern conveniences. The violent police action, described in a 1986 report as “unconscionable,” has endured as a profound chapter in Philadelphia’s history. Victims and survivors of MOVE were ultimately recognized in a civil lawsuit settled in 1996, where a judgment of $1.5 million was awarded to them due to the severe consequences of the bombing incident.

For decades, the identities of the remains from the MOVE bombing have been shrouded in controversy, leading to ongoing legal disputes between families seeking closure and city officials who have faced criticism for their handling of the tragic events. The recent discovery at the Penn Museum is set to reopen wounds for many families still seeking acknowledgment and resolution regarding the losses they have endured since that fateful day.

As institutions like the University of Pennsylvania Museum continue to confront their past and work towards a more ethical approach to historical artifacts and human remains, the case of Delisha Africa serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impacts of historical injustices, the importance of transparency, and the need for accountability in how such matters are historically interpreted and treated.