One of the Philadelphia MOVE 9 has been released on parole after almost 42 years in prison for a crime he maintains he did not do.
Delbert Orr Africa emerged from State Correction Institution – Dallas in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with his arms splayed resembling the shape of a cross, four decades after he first held the Christ-like during a deadly police siege of 1978.
The freed man, 73, hugged relatives and cried as he stepped out from behind prison walls on Saturday following a lengthy time inside for the third-degree murder of officer James Ramp.
His road to prison began after notoriously brutal mayor Frank Rizzo complained the black liberation group was a nuisance, citing violation of the health code and weapons violation.
Delbert Orr Africa was released from prison after almost 42 years on Saturday
His family members hugged and cried as they met him outside prison following his release on parole. He attended a ‘Welcome Home’ event after his release (left)
Delbert Africa, the spokesman for MOVE was convicted for the murder of a Philadelphia cop
After 15 months of clashing, cops entered their commune with guns and a water cannon and a police shootout ended with officer Ramp being killed by a single bullet.
He was one of nine MOVE Philadelphia members convicted of killing police officer James Ramp in 1978 during a siege on the black liberation group’s home
Images from the siege show members including the Move 9 – five male and four female members – being treated with excessive force as they are arrested.
Despite his apparent surrendering, shocking black and white images that were shared by attorney Brad Thomson upon his release, show the cops jabbing him in the neck with a rifle, dragging him by his hair and kicking him in the head.
‘A cop hit me with his helmet. Smashed my eye. Another cop swung his shotgun and broke my jaw,’ Delbert told the Guardian while incarcerated.
‘I went down, and after that I don’t remember anything till I came to and a dude was dragging me by my hair and cops started kicking me in the head.’
The MOVE 9 were Chuck, Delbert, Eddie, Janet, Janine, Merle, Michael, Phil, and Debbie Africa.
Despite his apparent surrendering, shocking black and white images that were shared by attorney Brad Thomson upon his release, show the cops jabbing him in the neck with a rifle
Cops are seen dragging him by his hair and kicking him in the head during the siege of 1978
Members of MOVE, a cult founded by John Africa, avoid being arrested as they gather in front of their house in the Powelton Village section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
He was also reunited with one of his daughters, Yvonne M Orr, on the grounds of SCI Dallas. The two were tearful as they embraced.
‘I’m so happy to have my brother home,’ Janine Africa (one of the Move 9) said on Saturday after the release
On Saturday, Delbert and his loved ones posed with a sign that read ‘Love Live John Africa’ in reference to the group’s founder who died. He’s pictured with former imprisoned MOVE member, Carlos Africa (left)
The group insists a stray bullet from police killed the officer but they were convicted for his death, each receiving 30 years to life.
In 1985, a second siege on the house included a city-authorized aerial incendiary bomb. Authorities let fire spread through the mainly African-American neighborhood and 61 houses were burned down.
Delbert Orr Africa’s 13-year-old daughter was one of 11 people who died inside the new MOVE house on Osage Avenue, and one of five children who perished. Group founder John Africa also died.
‘I just cried. I wanted to strike out. I wanted to wreak as much havoc as I could until they put me down,’ Delbert told the Guardian. ‘That anger, it brought such a feeling of helplessness. Like, dang! What to do now? Dark times.’
The Guardian reported ‘he survived in solitary confinement by developing a black history quiz with other prisoners…they would play by tapping out messages… questions like: when was the Brown v Board of Education ruling in the US Supreme Court? What year was the BPP founded?’
During his time behind bars he was placed in solitary confinement six years into his incarceration, because he refused to cut his dreadlocks due to spiritual beliefs.
In September 2019, his daughter created a GoFundMe page to help raise $15,000 in preparation for his release
The group was pictured at a Welcome Home reception after the release. Delbert laughs and smiles
One more member, Chuck Africa, remains in prison and could be released soon
His lawyer said the release of Delbert on parole ‘affirms what the movement to free the Move 9 has been arguing for decades: that their continued incarceration is unjust’
On Saturday, Delbert and his loved ones posed with a sign that read ‘Love Live John Africa’ in reference to the group’s founder who died.
Thomson said the release of Delbert on parole ‘affirms what the movement to free the Move 9 has been arguing for decades: that their continued incarceration is unjust’.
He added: ‘With the release of Delbert, that leaves Charles ‘Chuck’ Africa as the last member of the Move 9 to still be in prison. Chuck went before the parole board last month and we are optimistic that he will be released in the very near future.’
Two other members of MOVE had previously died in state custody.
Delbert was pictured with Pam Africa, Minister of Confrontation of the MOVE Organization, minutes after he walked out of prison.
‘I’m so happy to have my brother home,’ Janine Africa, one of the Move 9, told Philadelphia Inquirer.
He was also reunited with one of his daughters, Yvonne M Orr, on the grounds of SCI Dallas. The two were tearful as they embraced.
A shoeless girl stands in the rubble outside the MOVE house (in the Powelton Village neighborhood) after a shootout between the Black Power commune and police officers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1978
A female African Americanmember of MOVE, founded by John Africa, preaches to the crowd that gathers in front of their barricaded house in the Powelton Village section
Police officers provide cover for firefighters who aim a water cannon at the MOVE house. The shootout resulted in one death, a number of injuries, and the arrest of nine MOVE members; seven years later, following continued conflict, the city authorized the aerial bombing of the group’s headquarters
Aerial view of smoke rising from smoldering rubble where some 60 homes were destroyed by fire after a shoot out and bombing at the back-to-nature group MOVE’s house in West Philadelphia, while police were attempting to force the group’s eviction
Relatives and supporters of the radical back-to-nature group MOVE conduct an anniversary march through the Osage street neighborhood, one year to the day after police bombed a MOVE house, destroying 61 homes and killing 11 MOVE members (May 13, 1986)
But Delbert was not able to reunite with his other daughter. She was killed when the Philadelphia police firebombed the new MOVE house on Osage Avenue on May 13, 1985.
Also there to greet him was Carlos Africa, a MOVE member and former political prisoner, who was released from prison decades ago but returned on Saturday to drive Delbert home.
The group was pictured at a Welcome Home reception after the release.
In September 2019, his daughter created a GoFundMe page to help raise $15,000 in preparation for his release.
‘I have to have some major things in place in order to ensure he’s re-acclimated (e.g. health insurance, housing, etc). I would greatly appreciate your financial support by donating to my GoFundMe campaign for my father,’ Yvonne M Orr wrote on the crowdfunding page. ‘Delbert Orr Africa is now 73 years old, having served nearly 42 years for a crime none of the Move 9 committed. Please help me get him resettled into his ‘new’ world. Thank you in advance for your consideration!’
By Sunday morning it had raised $8,173.
Two African American member of MOVE, founded by John Africa, stand in front of their barricaded house in the Powelton Village section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA MOVE UNDER SIEGE
MOVE was formed in 1972 by Vincent Lopez Leaphart – later known as ‘John Africa’ – off the back of the Black Panther Party.
The radical black liberation group fought to be free from oppression and promoted technology-free, back-to-nature living. Each member took the last name ‘Africa’ and the group tackled issues such as animal rights and police brutality.
They still exist today.
Notoriously brutal mayor Frank Rizzo complained the group was a nuisance, citing violation of the health code and weapons violation.
Police use extreme force when they attack the MOVE cult headquarters in the Powelton Village section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1978
After 15 months of clashing, on August 8, 1978, cops entered the commune with guns and a water cannon and a police shootout ended with officer James Ramp being killed by a single bullet.
Images from the siege show members including the Move 9 – five male and four female members – being treated with excessive force as they are arrested.
They were Chuck, Delbert, Eddie, Janet, Janine, Merle, Michael, Phil, and Debbie Africa.
The group insists a stray bullet from police killed the officer but they were convicted for his death, each receiving 30 years to life.
In 1985, a second siege on the house included a city-authorized aerial incendiary bomb. Authorities let fire spread through the mainly African-American neighborhood and 61 houses were burned down.
Delbert Orr Africa’s 13-year-old daughter was one of 11 people who died inside the new MOVE house on on Osage Avenue, and one of five children who perished. Group founder John Africa also died.