PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hundreds of neighbors, supporters, and members of the Africa family gathered Thursday to remember the 11 lives lost 36 years ago in the MOVE bombing on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia.
This followed the news which came hours beforehand, that Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Tom Farley resigned for mishandling MOVE victim remains.
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Attendees, many dressed in all white, marched down Osage Avenue as they yelled the names of those who died on May 13th of 1985.
"I was on my way to work in West Chester," said Shirley Beckett, who lives "right around the corner" from the site of the bombing.
"People were crying. They were yelling out, 'Stop the fire!' They said 'Let the fire burn.' Neighbors lost their homes."
Mike Africa, Jr. was still processing the news that Farley resigned over the mishandling of his family’s remains.
"This is a lot of stuff happening right now. I can’t really say (much) right this second...I can say we want accountability," he said.
Others in attendance say it was important to remember the tragedy, so that it never happens again.
"It happened 36 years ago. That’s within some people’s lifetimes," said one protester.
The protest ended with a rally in Malcolm X Park, demanding action.
"It’s still the same systems and same people in charge that allowed that to happen."
