The Logan Center for Urban Investigative Reporting at Temple University's Klein College of Media and Communication, in collaboration with The Philadelphia Inquirer, is set to release a compelling limited-series podcast investigating the 1985 MOVE Bombing in Philadelphia, the only time in US history that a police force bombed a city neighborhood.
This six-part investigative audio documentary, titled MOVE: Untangling the Tragedy, will provide in-depth context on the tragedy that killed 11 people, including six children and destroyed a neighborhood. The podcast will premiere on April 22 and build to an episode on the bombing to coincide with the fortieth anniversary on May 13, 2025.
Episodes range from 30 to 40 minutes and comprehensively explore the events leading up to the bombing, its immediate aftermath, and its lasting impact. The project is led by the Logan Center’s Director, Journalism Professor Yvonne Latty, who serves as the executive producer and oversees production management, field production and community outreach.
"This is complex Philadelphia tragedy," Latty said. "Our goal is to tell the full story of this pivotal event."
Professor Linn Washington, KLN ‘74, a veteran journalist who has covered MOVE for over five decades, will be the podcast host and producer.
“I am glad to share the story that I have covered for 50 years, " said Washington. "I am excited for people to hear the overlooked accounts of this horrific event in the history of Philadelphia."
Listeners can expect an immersive journey through the history of MOVE, featuring:
Accounts of the rise of MOVE in the era of Police Commissioner and Mayor Frank Rizzo, whose leadership made national headlines for police brutality; The MOVE-versus-police standoff on Powelton Avenue led to the death of an officer and nine MOVE members being sentenced to 40+ years in prison.
First-hand accounts from journalists who covered the bombing for over 20 hours on the scene, including tape of live interviews they conducted that day.
Conversations with key figures include former mayor Wilson Goode, community leader and the Powelton Village standoff negotiator Walt Palmer, and MOVE leaders Mike Africa Jr., Pam Africa and Mumia Abu Jamal.
The Logan Center, Klein College and The Inquirer will host several events around the podcast launch and anniversary.
April 25 - Podcast Launch Event, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Temple Performing Arts Center, 1837 N Broad Street. This event will feature a panel discussion with key figures from the podcast and a Q&A session with the audience.
May 17 - Randall Theater, 2020 N 13th Street, 6-9 p.m. Directed reading of a play by former Inquirer reporter Maida Odom, who covered the siege on Osage Avenue. The play is directed by Ontaria Wilson, who, as a child, witnessed the bombing from the window of her home.