‘Mad or nah?’: Philly residents react to Penn’s storage of MOVE childrens’ remains
Tamara Russell, aka P.O.C., hit the streets to hear what Philadelphians are saying about the news that Penn Museum had stored and studied the remains of MOVE children.
Listen 4:34
Protesters demonstrated in April outside Penn Museum over its handling of MOVE bombing victims' remains. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)
The 1985 state-sanctioned bombing of the MOVE compound in West Philadelphia is often regarded as one of the most egregious acts of police brutality recorded in American history.
More than 30 years later, the MOVE bombing remains a relevant topic of conversation, even more so as of late.
It was revealed in April that the University of Pennsylvania kept remains thought to belong to children killed in the police bombing for decades, unbeknownst to the family. The remains were also used for teaching purposes.
Outrage ensued, as did a protest on the university’s campus. The University of Pennsylvania eventually issued an apology for “allowing human remains recovered from the MOVE house to be used for research and teaching, and for retaining the remains for far too long.”
Tamara Russell, aka P.O.C., hit the streets of Philadelphia to further explore how Philadelphians were feeling about this story, which garnered international attention.
—
Tamara Russell is a partner in WHYY’s News and Information Community Exchange, a mutual-aid journalism collaborative that organizes, supports, and develops grassroots content creators.
Get daily updates from WHYY News!
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Part of the series
Mad or nah?
‘Mad or Nah?’ is an original woman-on-the-street interview series from Revive Radio that asks Philadelphians about issues impacting their everyday life.
Part of the series
N.I.C.E. Stories
Collaborative journalism from WHYY and our partners in the News & Information Community Exchange (N.I.C.E.) initiative.
Victims of the 1985 MOVE bombing accuse museum officials of not being forthcoming about turning over remains of their family members.
2 weeks ago
Listen 1:11
Penn Museum discovers another set of human remains from the MOVE bombing
An ongoing inventory uncovered more unaccounted remains believed to be those of 12-year-old Delisha Africa.
1 month ago
Listen 1:10
The Black Philadelphians Descendant Community Group opposed the burial, insisting it should have had the right to determine what happened to the remains.
11 months ago