40 years later: Mayor, police and residents reflect on the impact and regrets of the 1985 MOVE bombing

Listen to a special program, “MOVE: 40 Years Later,” on KYW Newsradio at 8 p.m. on May 13
MOVE bombing
Photo credit KYW Newsradio

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Forty years ago, on May 13, 1985, the city of Philadelphia dropped a bomb on the Cobbs Creek residence of the MOVE organization.

Neighbors on Osage Avenue had complained that the group was living in unsanitary conditions and shouting threats and profanities from a loudspeaker. They refused to leave, despite notices from the city.

The bomb ignited a fire that killed 11 people — five of them children — and destroyed 61 homes.

KYW Newsradio reporters were on the scene that day. Decades later, they again spoke to city officials who were in charge at the time to try to understand how the decision to drop a bomb was made. Then-Mayor Wilson Goode doesn’t have an answer.

“I have not been able yet to have anyone who took responsibility for making that decision,” he said. “I have regrets that the people who were on the scene ... they did not do a proper job in terms of what they should have done.”

Aerial view of smoke rising from smoldering rubble where 61 homes were destroyed by a fire started by the MOVE bombing in West Philadelphia, May 13, 1985.
Aerial view of smoke rising from smoldering rubble where 61 homes were destroyed by a fire started by the MOVE bombing in West Philadelphia, May 13, 1985. Photo credit Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
James Berghaier testifies before the MOVE Commission.
Former police officer James Berghaier, seen testifying before the MOVE Commission, was able to save one of the children from the house. Still, he carries guilt from that day. Photo credit WHYY/Temple University Archives

Former police officer James Berghaier still carries guilt from that day. He rescued one of the children from the MOVE home.

“A lot of officers were ashamed after that day,” he said. “Those children died, and I was so close, and didn’t know. … And the neighbors, losing everything, the frustration they went through, how it disrupted their lives.”

Several Philadelphia police officers stroll through the West Philadelphia neighborhood destroyed by the bombing of the MOVE headquarters, May 13, 1985.
Several Philadelphia police officers stroll through the West Philadelphia neighborhood destroyed by the bombing of the MOVE headquarters, May 13, 1985. Photo credit Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Philadelphia police carry away a MOVE supporter from the scene on May 13, 1985.
Philadelphia police carry away a MOVE supporter from the scene on May 13, 1985. Photo credit Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

Baba Renfrow was a teenager living near the MOVE house at the time. He evacuated his home, but he didn’t know at the time that he would never return.

“The city told us when they evacuated us … ‘Don’t worry about it, just bring an overnight bag.  This will all be over.’ What I vividly remember that day is all of us crowding around the television near the kitchen and watching everything unfold that day. So you don’t really know what is about to happen. You just know something is about to happen.”

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the MOVE bombing, KYW Newsradio will present an hour-long special looking back at the tragedy with city officials, law enforcement, and residents who were impacted.

Listen to “MOVE: 40 Years Later” on KYW Newsradio at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, or click here.

Featured Image Photo Credit: KYW Newsradio