National

“We Are Victims Of Terrorism:” Fred Hampton Jr. Recognizes 30th Anniversary Of Philadelphia MOVE Bombing

Published

11 years ago

May 18, 2015

More than 60 other homes and businesses were destroyed when the Philadelphia police department and FBI bombed the MOVE home in 1985.

By Doshon Farad
Special to the NNPA from The Atlanta Daily World

In a country that prides itself on being the apex of liberty and freedom of expression, the notion of domestic terrorism never crosses the mind of most Americans. In the eyes of many, however, this notion is all too real.

On May 13th, 1985, the Move organization’s headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa. were firebombed by local police who claimed that the group’s members posed a safety risk to the city – this taking place after several years of well documented evidence that the department was carrying out a vendetta towards the organization.

The bombing resulted in the deaths of eleven people, including Move’s founder John Africa and five children, as well as the virtual leveling of Osage Avenue where the headquarters were located. Many eyewitness accounts from that day described the scene as being reminiscent of the dropping of an atomic bomb.

On Wednesday, activists from across the country and world poured into Philadelphia to observe the thirtieth anniversary of the event. It began as a mid-morning rally held on Osage Avenue in remembrance of bombing victims, as well as to demand the release of members of the 1978 “Move 9” case who supporters allege were falsely charged by city and state officials for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer, among other charges. These nine individuals have served nearly forty years in prison and keep being denied parole despite evidence being introduced that could possibly grant them a new trial.

After the rally, a nearly thirty block march took place in which participants demanded an end to police brutality and the freeing of others who they referred to as “political prisoners.” This list included imprisoned journalist and fellow Move member Mumia Abu Jamal, whose case was also mentioned throughout the day-long program.

The march ended at the First District Plaza, where later in the evening an indoor rally was held honoring the victims of the Osage Avenue tragedy.

In attendance was the son of slain Black Panther Party Leader Fred Hampton, Fred Hampton Jr., who travelled all the way from Chicago to lend his support. He told NewsOne flatly, “We are victims of terrorism. What happened in Philadelphia on Osage Avenue thirty years ago is one of the blatant cases of the extent this government will go to to any attempt of our people to fight for self determination.”

The long time activist continued by emphasizing the importance of remembering Move. “We’re here in solidarity. We’re making sure that every generation knows what happened thirty years. . .We’re making the concrete connection between terrorism on Africans (Blacks) and other colonized people.”

Revolution Communist Party of America Spokesperson Carl Dix was also present and he spoke with NewsOne briefly about his thoughts concerning the day’s events. “Today is a day we must never forget. Thirty years ago they dropped a bomb on a house in a Black neighborhood. They began by launching a military assault, firing hundreds of rounds of ammunition into the house. They tried to drown them out with water hoses and when that didn’t work, they dropped a bomb on them. We must never forget this because they were giving us a lesson in how they (law enforcement) functioned,” he said.

This event couldn’t have come at a better time in light of the recent controversy surrounding police killings of African-Americans across the United States.

During the evening, Ramona Africa-who is a survivor of the bombing on that fateful day three decades ago-served as co-emcee and spoke for several minutes on police brutality. “We must understand the work we need to do and the stand we need to take to put an end to this viciousness. They’re not going to stop on their own. Nobody is going to hand us peace and contentment on a silver platter. We have to direct and demand that. And settle for nothing less.”

Along with an African-themed program that features poets, presentations, video addresses by former Black Panther Angela Davis, Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan, and a performance by New Jersey-based Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, longtime scholar and activist Dr. Cornel West spoke.

In his usual fiery manner, Dr. West wasted no time in sharing his thoughts. “It’s a new day in Philadelphia, Ferguson, Baltimore and the world. . .We’re here to say to the Move organization that we love each and every one of them.”

Tying the Move plight into the broader struggle for justice, West asserted, “When the history is written of the last forty years about the vicious attacks on poor and working people and the massive transfer of their wealth to the top one percent, someone will ask ‘Who actually tried to stand up and tell the truth?’ And the condition of truth is always to allow suffering to be manifest.”

“It’s a beautiful thing to be on fire for justice,” West added.

Earlier in the evening, attendees heard from “Move 9” member Janine Africa, who has been held for nearly forty years at the Cambridge Springs Correctional Institution.

Event organizers announced that more plans are being formed to initiate the release of the “Move 9.”

###

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COMMENTARY: The National Protest Must Be Accompanied with Our Votes

Just as Trump is gathering election data like having the FBI take all the election data in Georgia from the 2020 election, so must we organize in preparation for the coming primary season to have the right people on ballots in each Republican district, so that we can regain control of the House of Representatives and by doing so, restore the separation of powers and balance that our democracy is being deprived of.

Published

4 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper. File photo..

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

As thousands of Americans march every week in cities across this great nation, it must be remembered that the protest without the vote is of no concern to Donald Trump and his administration.

In every city, there is a personal connection to the U.S. Congress. In too many cases, the member of Congress representing the people of that city and the congressional district in which it sits, is a Republican. It is the Republicans who are giving silent support to the destructive actions of those persons like the U.S. Attorney General, the Director of Homeland Security, and the National Intelligence Director, who are carrying out the revenge campaign of the President rather than upholding the oath of office each of them took “to Defend The Constitution of the United States.”

In California, the primary comes in June 2026. The congressional races must be a priority just as much as the local election of people has been so important in keeping ICE from acquiring facilities to build more prisons around the country.

“We the People” are winning this battle, even though it might not look like it. Each of us must get involved now, right where we are.

In this Black History month, it is important to remember that all we have accomplished in this nation has been “in spite of” and not “because of.” Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without a struggle.”

Today, the struggle is to maintain our very institutions and history. Our strength in this struggle rests in our “collectiveness.” Our newspapers and journalists are at the greatest risk. We must not personally add to the attack by ignoring those who have been our very foundation, our Black press.

Are you spending your dollars this Black History Month with those who salute and honor contributions by supporting those who tell our stories? Remember that silence is the same as consent and support for the opposition. Where do you stand and where will your dollars go?

Oakland Post

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Activism

Congresswoman Simon Votes Against Department of Homeland Security, ICE Funding

“They need accountability. Republicans already gave these agencies an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement, funding they have used to conduct raids at schools, separate families, and deploy a masked paramilitary who refuse to identify themselves on American streets. This bill gives them more funding without a single reform to stop unconstitutional, immoral abuses,” she said.

Published

4 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12). File photo.

By Post Staff

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) released a statement after voting against legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB).

“Today, I voted NO on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 13, 2026.

“ICE and CBP do not need more funding to terrorize communities or kill more people,” she said in the media release.

“They need accountability. Republicans already gave these agencies an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement, funding they have used to conduct raids at schools, separate families, and deploy a masked paramilitary who refuse to identify themselves on American streets. This bill gives them more funding without a single reform to stop unconstitutional, immoral abuses,” she said.

“The American people are demanding change. Poll after poll of Americans’ opinions show overwhelming support for requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras and prohibiting them from hiding their faces during enforcement actions. This is the bare minimum transparency standard, and this funding legislation does not even meet this low bar,” Simon said.

“Republicans in Congress are not serious about reining in these lawless agencies. Their refusal to make meaningful changes to the DHS funding bill has consequences that go beyond immigration enforcement. TSA agents who keep our airports safe and FEMA workers who help our communities recover from disasters are stuck in limbo due to Republican inaction.

“The Constitution does not have an exception for immigrants. Every person on American soil has rights, and federal agencies must respect them. The East Bay has made clear at the Alameda County and city level that we will hold the line against a violent ICE force and support our immigrant communities – I will continue to hold the line and our values with my votes in Congress.”

Oakland Post

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Activism

Post Newspaper Invites NNPA to Join Nationwide Probate Reform Initiative

The Post’s Probate Reform Group meets the first Thursday of every month via Zoom and invites the public to attend. The Post is making the initiative national and will submit information from its monthly meeting to the NNPA to educate, advocate, and inform its readers.

Published

4 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Tanya Dennis

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) represents the Black press with over 200 newspapers nationwide.

Last night the Post announced that it is actively recruiting the Black press to inform the public that there is a probate “five-alarm fire” occurring in Black communities and invited every Black newspaper starting from the Birmingham Times in Alabama to the Milwaukee Times Weekly in Wisconsin, to join the Post in our “Year of Action” for probate reform.

Reporter Tanya Dennis says, “The adage that ‘When America catches a cold, Black folks catch the flu” is too true in practice; that’s why we’re engaging the Black Press to not only warn, but educate the Black community regarding the criminal actions we see in probate court: Thousands are losing generational wealth to strangers. It’s a travesty that happens daily.”

Venus Gist, a co-host of the reform group, states, “ Unfortunately, people are their own worst enemy when it comes to speaking with loved ones regarding their demise. It’s an uncomfortable subject that most avoid, but they do so at their peril. The courts rely on dissention between family members, so I encourage not only a will and trust [be created] but also videotape the reading of your documents so you can show you’re of sound mind.”

In better times, drafting a will was enough; then a trust was an added requirement to ‘iron-clad’ documents and to assure easy transference of wealth.

No longer.

As the courts became underfunded in the last 20 years, predatory behavior emerged to the extent that criminality is now occurring at alarming rates with no oversight, with courts isolating the conserved, and, I’ve heard, many times killing conservatees for profit. Plundering the assets of estates until beneficiaries are penniless is also common.”

Post Newspaper Publisher Paul Cobb says, “The simple solution is to avoid probate at all costs. If beneficiaries can’t agree, hire a private mediator and attorney to work things out. The moment you walk into court, you are vulnerable to the whims of the court. Your will and trust mean nothing.”

Zakiya Jendayi, a co-host of the Probate Reform Group and a victim herself, says, “In my case, the will and trust were clear that I am the beneficiary of the estate, but the opposing attorney said I used undue influence to make myself beneficiary. He said that without proof, and the judge upheld the attorney’s baseless assertion. In court, the will and trust is easily discounted.”

The Black press reaches out to 47 million Black Americans with one voice. The power of the press has never been so important as it is now in this national movement to save Black generational wealth from predatory attorneys, guardians and judges.

The next probate reform meeting is on March 5, from 7 – 9 p.m. PST. Zoom Details:
Meeting ID: 825 0367 1750
Passcode: 475480

All are welcome.