Philly Plain Dealer

On Monday December 9th, 2024, Mike Africa Jr. and other members of the MOVE organization, a Black liberation group based in Philadelphia, held a press conference demanding for the return of Delisha Africa’s remains. Delisha was just 12 years old when in 1985, the Philadelphia Police Department relentlessly shot and bombed MOVE’s home on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia, killing her, 4 other children, and 6 adults that were in the residence at the time of the attack.

The conference began with Philadelphia’s 3rd District Councilmember, Jamie Gauthier, walking up to the podium. “First and foremost, I want to offer my deepest condolences to the Africa family,” said Gauthier. The Councilmember continued to speak, sharing her anger and disgust that the Penn Museum not only had the remains of MOVE members killed in the 1985 assault but that these remains had been used for decades as “teaching tools” and “specimens” for research. “The Penn Museum continues to demonstrate a profound disrespect to Black life and Black death,” expressed Gauthier. She finished her speech exclaiming that the Penn Museum must learn that “in life or in death, it is never okay to use Black bodies as trophies or to enrich an institution.”

Photos by Jah Yeboah-Gyasi

After completing her statement, Gauthier stepped away from the podium, making way for Mike Africa Jr. to say his piece. He began by noting the “gruesome” documentation of the 1985 bombing. His reason being “so that you understand the level of harm and trauma and pain and violence that the MOVE organization has experienced at the hands of law enforcement here in Philadelphia.” Africa Jr. shared that medical examiners could not identify some of the bodies because “too many heads and torsos” were missing. After a brief pause, he continued on, stating that a University of Pennsylvania student wrote a dissertation about Delisha Africa and within that dissertation was an x-ray of Delisha Africa’s head. “We know that [the Penn Museum] is not being honest,” spoke Africa Jr. He concluded by calling for the release of Mumia Abu Jamal, asking for rightful return of all remains still within the Penn Museum’s grasp, and introducing the next speaker, Yvonne Malaika Orr-El, sister of Delisha Africa. 

After a brief introduction, Orr-El reflected on the precious moments she shared with her sister, Delisha. “I remember our times playing in the yard together holding hands,” she said. “I remember us sharing dreams of what we would do and become.” 
She continued on to speak of her life journey, highlighting significant moments such as her father’s death after being denied chemotherapy while incarcerated and the August 8th, 1978 arrest of the MOVE 9. “We want…the freedom of Mumia Abu Jamal,” she said. Orr-El also asked those listening to imagine their family members experiencing being burned alive and shot when attempting to escape the blaze. “Could you live through that? For your own family member? Your blood? I did.” Orr-El then reminded the attendees of what the MOVE organization was able to accomplish. “We started organic soil movement. We started fresh fruits. Fresh vegetables. And we were ostracized for it.” She finished her statement by saying, “it is domestic terrorism. It is criminal. I want the people held accountable. I want them arrested. I want my sister. I want her to rest.”

A Penn Spokesperson told the Philly Plain Dealer “The Penn Museum’s Director has been in direct contact with the Africa mothers since the information about the additional MOVE remains was shared with them on November 12. We are waiting to learn more about their wishes for the arrangements.”