New play revisits '85 MOVE tragedy

Philadelphia has had a difficult time wrestling with its collective memory of the MOVE nightmare. The unanswered questions surrounding the incident have lingered for eight years, haunting the consciences of those involved and those who watched on television. Tom Gibbons' new play, 6221:Prophecy and Tragedy, attempts to negotiate its way through the painful memories and unsolved mysteries that came about on May 13, 1985 when police fire bombed the MOVE house on Osage Avenue, killing 6 adults and 5 children. The decision to bomb the house came after armed MOVE members, under the leadership of cult leader John Africa, barricaded themselves inside their West Philadelphia rowhouse following multiple confrontations with neighbors and police. Gibbons and producer Seth Rozin enlisted the help of MOVE member Ramona Africa, one of the two survivors of the tragedy, former Mayor Wilson Goode and various policemen who were involved in the incident to recreate the events that led up to the bloody confrontation. "We did it to get John Africa's message out and to prove [the police] shot us first," said Africa, when asked why she had agreed to help. She added that seeing herself being portrayed on stage felt "kind of strange." The play opened on March 4 at Annenberg's Harold Prince Theater, and was followed by a panel discussion involving Africa, Gibbons, Rozin, KYW-3 news anchor Larry Kane and Jim Berghaier, a policeman who pulled 9-year old Birdie Africa, the other survivor, from the burning building. Berghaier was committed to a mental institution after suffering severe emotional disturbances stemming from the confrontation. Fighting back tears, Berghaier, who is still in therapy, said the play "was extremely difficult to watch." Africa said that the play was important because it kept the memory of MOVE alive. She added that perhaps police would learn from MOVE and not make the same mistakes in future cult standoffs, such as the current one near Waco, Texas. She said that she did not necessarily blame all police, but that "this kind of thing was inevitable." "We're not saying all cops are bad," she said. "It's just the nature of their job that makes them kill." The panel discussed many of the questions that remain unanswered: · Why were Phil and Tree Africa's bodies found in the house, rather than in the alley where they were seen trying to flee the flames? · Who told city officials that the explosive used to dislodge the bunker from the roof was non-flammable? · Why was the fire allowed to burn, devouring an entire block, leaving 61 families homeless and costing the city millions of dollars? · Why was Mayor Goode in his office, watching the confrontation unfold on television rather than on the scene? Police Commissioner Greg Sambor, Managing Director Leo Brooks, and Fire Commissioner Bill Richmond and Goode have contradicted and accused each other over the years. Renee Johnson from Germantown said the play brought back memories and was balanced in portraying both sides, although she did take exception with some of the language. "I think the language is a bit too strong," she said. 6221: Prophecy and Tragedy tries to exorcise Philadelphia's MOVE demons. The play and its message can be summed up in the words of one of the policemen at 6221 Osage on that May afternoon. "This whole thing is fucked up." 6221 will run at the Harold Prince Theater until March 20.

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