Philly to Palestine: Connections in Oppression
Parallels between the attacks on MOVE and the People of Gaza
As pointed out by YCL member Collin during his public comments to City Council on October 19, there are parallels between the attacks on the MOVE organization in Philadelphia and the Palestinian people of Gaza today. Collin’s comment was delivered alongside other local activists mobilized by the Philly Palestine Coalition to protest City Council’s resolution 230706 condemning Hamas, which notably neglected to call for a ceasefire.
The people of Philadelphia remember the targeted harassment to which the Black liberation organization known as MOVE was subjected. Members of MOVE living in Powelton Village were antagonized and assaulted by police, leading to the death of an infant. Their home was blockaded and they were denied access to food and water. They were labeled a terrorist organization by then mayor Frank Rizzo. High pressure water hoses flooded the house which was also shot up by dozens of police officers. An officer was killed, and while evidence suggests by friendly fire, police violently beat an arrested member of MOVE in retaliation for the officer’s death, they were later acquitted for this act. Finally the house was bulldozed and leveled the very same night of the shooting. Members arrested in this event were framed for the murder of the police officer and sent to jail, separating them from their children.
Years later, another standoff occurred between PPD and MOVE in the neighborhood of Cobbs Creek. Where once again the house which contained young children, was flooded with high powered hoses, riddled with bullets and tear gas and, most infamously, aerially bombed with a satchel of explosives dropped from a helicopter. The fire set off by this explosion was left to blaze, showing complete disregard for collateral damage. Those trying to flee the flames were shot at to prevent them from leaving the house. Only two members survived. The remaining 11 occupants, including five children, burned to death. The remains of the children were taken by the local University of Penn and used for educational purposes. When the University faced pressure to return the remains, administrators instead attempted to destroy them, displaying blatant disregard for the humanity of the bombing victims. It wasn’t until In 2020, that the Philadelphia city council voted to apologize for the MOVE bombing.
These events are not something that only happened decades ago, but are happening now. Daily we see the aerial bombardment of Gaza with wanton disregard for collateral damage. Women and children are directly targeted and killed by the bombings of hospitals, schools and refugee camps. Long before the war began in October, Palestinian families were separated due to arrests and the denial of the right to return. Captives are abused in the custody of IDF soldiers. Palestinians living in Gaza are being denied access to water, food, and other needed resources due to Israel’s blockade. In November, the UN called on Israel to stop using water as a weapon of war, reporting that 70% of Palestinians in Gaza did not have access to clean water. Homes are destroyed, either by bombs or bulldozers, to displace Palestinians and make way for illegal settlements. High powered water pumps are being used by the Israeli Defense Forces to flood Gaza. The list of parallels goes on.
This connection between oppression and the struggle for liberation and justice between our city and Gaza makes the behavior of our elected officials all the more abhorrent. The same elected officials who try to convince Philadelphians of their apology for the attacks on MOVE and efforts to bring about justice in our city, are still endorsing similar state violence abroad: violence against children, starvation and dehydration, separation of families through imprisonment, and destruction of homes.The fact that Dwight Evans represents both neighborhoods of Powelton Village and Cobbs Creek yet feels comfortable remaining silent on the crimes being committed by Israel in Gaza, is shameful and indicates the lack of any political pressure on him to demand a ceasefire. Philadelphia has seen many inspiring mass mobilizations demanding justice for the people of Palestine. That same level of intensity and passion should be brought to bear on representatives such as Evans as well as Senator John Fetterman, demanding that they support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a withdrawal of forces. The December 11 rally in Harrisburg, PA targeting Governor Josh Shapiro and State reps and Fridays at Fetterman’s are both actions targeting representatives' failure to act on behalf of the progressive constituents that elected them. Similar and frequent actions must be carried out here in our city against those that have the power to bring about a ceasefire. This is what we have been called upon to do by Palestinians in Gaza and Israel. The people of Palestine deserve our stamina and dedication to achieving political victories that will help bring about safety for the Palestinian people.