In 1985, Philadelphia police dropped a bomb on a house occupied by a black group living communally called MOVE. Sixty-one homes were destroyed in the resulting fire, which gutted a city block.

Although many writers have recounted the standoff that resulted in the death of 11 MOVE members, five of whom were children, it remains a faded memory in America’s recent history.

Let The Fire Burn, a coming documentary by director Jason Osder, paints a new portrait of this tragic occurrence using only archival footage.

The history of MOVE

MOVE occupied a row house on a residential street, but often disturbed residents with loud messages projected at all hours of the day, espousing philosophies many considered radical.

It has been called both a cult whose practices resulted in child endangerment, and a peace-loving organization with an endearing love for nature.

By the time of the 1985 incident, the group had built a bunker on the roof of the house.

In addition, authorities believed MOVE was stockpiling weapons. In 1977, its sole white member, co-founder Donald Glassey, became an FBI informant on the group after being arrested on weapons charges, leading these agents to confiscate large amounts of MOVE munitions.

Seeking to raid MOVE in response to complaints by neighbors, after years of ongoing tensions with authorities, on May 13, 1985, police confronted the group.

When the raid failed, authorities dropped the bomb.

They said, “…let the fire burn”

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