1985 MOVE bombing at 6221 Osage Avenue

On May 13, 1985, Philadelphia police dropped an explosive device on a fortified house occupied by the MOVE organization at 6221 Osage Avenue, which started a fire that killed 11 people, including five children, and destroyed 61 neighboring homes. The event and the city’s handling of the operation led to widespread condemnation, investigations, and civil suits. The neighborhood impact included long-term displacement of residents and a protracted process of neighborhood rebuilding and restitution.