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The police obtained arrest warrants in 1985 charging four MOVE occupants with crimes including parole violations, contempt of court, illegal possession of firearms, and making terroristic threats. Mayor Wilson Goode and police commissioner Gregore J. Sambor classified MOVE as a terrorist organization. Police evacuated residents of the area from the neighborhood prior to their action. Residents were told that they would be able to return to their homes after a 24-hour period.
There was an armed standoff with police, who threw tear gas canisters at the building. The MOVE members fired at them, and a gunfight with semi-automatic and automatic firearms ensued for 90 minutes... At 2 p.m., Sambor ordered that the compound be bombed.
From a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, Philadelphia Police Department proceeded to drop two 1.5-pound bombs (which the police referred to as "entry devices") made of Tovex, a dynamite substitute, combined with two pounds of FBI-supplied C-4, targeting a fortified, bunker-like cubicle on the roof of the house. The bombs exploded after 45 seconds, igniting the fuel of a gasoline-powered generator and setting the house on fire, which was left to burn. Officials later stated that this was to let the fire burn through the roof and destroy the "bunker", so police could then drop tear gas into the house and flush out the occupants.
30 minutes later, firefighters moved in to control the fire but there was gunfire and the firefighters and police were ordered back as the fire spread to neighboring houses down the street.
The only two MOVE survivors, Birdie Africa, who was 13 at the time, and Ramona Africa, both escaped the house. Police initially said that two men had also run out of the house at the same time and fired at them and that police had returned fire. Ramona Africa said that police fired at those trying to escape. Police said that MOVE members moved in and out of the house shooting at the police. The fire department later declared the fire under control at 11:47 p.m.
"Men" ...a fucking 13year old. This word choice is systemic racism.
Seems reasonable
Bombing a house in the middle of a residential area seems "reasonable"?
A judge and jury found the police department used unnecessary excessive violence and violated constitutional protections against unlawful searches.
That's definitely sarcastic.
We got some messed up people on this site already we can never be too sure.
I hope so, yes.
Nah, police weren't adequately trained to handle something on this scale. Something had to be done, but not by police with satchel charges and an anti-tank machinegun.
anti-tank machine gun
What?
Yeah the city police had and used it. Crazy, right?
What is an anti tank machine gun?
In WWI there were attempts to bring down early tanks with heavy machine guns (the armor was not that thick back then)... but i am not sure if this is an official category.
ehhhh, I assume the guy meant an anti-material rifle? or some sort of autocannon if it actually is like a machinegun because anti-tank rifles are very antiquated and not a thing anymore, at least as a modern term for these weapons. That kind of thing got phased out since world war 2.
My best guess is that they meant an M2 browning and just knew they were mounted on some tanks, then assumed they were meant for tanks. They were meant for AP and AA use if im not misremembering.
A big gun with big bullets that shoots really fast. Fuck if I know the model, but the police had and used it in this event.
I'm constantly told the 2nd amendment exists for the express purpose of shooting cops. Are you saying the 2nd amendment is in the wrong here and that police should have access to weapons denied to ordinary people?
2nd amendment is supposed to keep the government in check. the fact there are guns citizens cannot get but the government can is a travesty
I want a god damn 25 megaton nuke tyvm.
Where's my crew-served armaments? When do I get to own a cruiser?
I need a recreational 50 Megatone McNuke
FOR REAL nobody fucking with the guy with a nuke
If that’s all true, then that adult and child from the cult who lived are lucky they lived after their cult had the gall to shoot at firefighters.
EDIT: added words
You're assuming that both of them, including the 13-year old, fired at the firefighters?
No but I am assuming the two of them were a part of the larger MOVE group referred to as "they", especially given they both had the last name Africa which was adopted by all of the cult's members. It's a miracle anybody made it out of the compound after hours of gunfighting and fires that engulfed 2 blocks.
You should not assume children are part of any group or movement. This wasn't a good vs bad event, as reality seldom is. Shitty people on both ends resulted in a tragedy.
Uh okay pal, how about this reformatting:
If that's all true, then that adult and child from the cult who lived are lucky they lived after their cult had the gall to shoot at firefighters.
Thanks pal, I agree with you once you reformatted yourself for clarity. Ty for finally being clear!
Aight, I'll go edit the original to mirror this.
Boy of you think 13-year-olds can't shoot you haven't seen shit
Boy of you think 4-year-olds can't shoot you haven't seen shit
/s
Boy of you think babies can’t shoot, you’ve never changed a diaper.
*of
Nice catch, corrected
You believe that part?
I'm not going to sit here and give you a lecture on what the word "IF" means.
Yeah I responded before you changed it, so stfu.
Nah the word if was there from the start, so stfu.
The fuck it was
Actually, here is an easy way to tell, your comment in response was over 2 hours later than the last time an edit was made to my comment. So the if absolutely was always there, just hover over the little pencil icon.
I'm sure there is a way to verify it on Lemmy.