Penn Museum Uncovers Additional Remains of 1985 MOVE Bombing Victim in West Philadelphia

In an unexpected discovery that adds a somber note to the institution’s history, the Penn Museum has announced the unveiling of additional human remains which are believed to be those of Delisha Africa. She was a 12-year-old victim of the 1985 MOVE bombing in West Philadelphia. The museum, in a process of conducting an inventory review of its Biological Anthropology Section, found the remains during preparation to transition artifacts into new storage facilities,

CBS News Philadelphia reports

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Believed to be separated from the previously accounted remains under unclear circumstances, the discovery was immediately shared with the Africa family. A tragedy that still echoes through the city streets, the 1985 MOVE bombing by Philadelphia police resulted in the death of five children and six adults and destroyed numerous homes. The Penn Museum and Princeton University came under fierce scrutiny in 2021 when it was revealed remains of one of the bombing victims were being used as instructional material. The museum subsequently apologized and returned the remains to the Africa family, as detailed by

WHYY

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Moreover, the museum issued a statement on its website committing to full transparency regarding any new evidence that may come to light. “This work has led to uncovering another set of MOVE remains, and this information has been communicated to the Africa family,” a museum spokesperson said, committing to ongoing examination of museum practices and ensuring that the humane treatment of human remains aligns with the highest ethical standards,

CBS News Philadelphia reports.

The MOVE organization, which was led by founder John Africa and promoted a life distancing from modern conveniences while advocating for equal rights for animals, frequently found itself in conflict with law enforcement and surrounding neighbors. An aerial bomb was dropped on the MOVE compound by Philadelphia police on May 13, 1985, an act that ignited a blaze, which subsequently razed over 60 homes. Efforts by emergency services were hindered when they were instructed to stand down, resulting in a catastrophe that has scarred the Philadelphia community for decades. In 1996, survivors of the MOVE bombing were awarded a $1.5 million judgment in a lawsuit following a 1986 commission report that labeled the bombing decision “unconscionable,” according to historical details provided by

6abc

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