Leaving MOVE: Recap: new podcast episode, survivor solidarity piece, and funds to help survivor Maria relocate

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Recap: new podcast episode, survivor solidarity piece, and funds to help survivor Maria relocate

As more develops, I'm going to try to archive some of the events in this blog.

Yesterday, a new podcast was released, Aishah Shahidah Simmons released a survivor solidarity piece, and Maria began fundraising to relocate.

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Please help Maria Hardy start a new life after MOVE:

Maria Hardy is also in need of funds in order to move out of the Philadelphia area. Please help her to move so that she can start a life of her choosing. Now that Maria has publicly spoken out about the abuse of her upbringing in MOVE, living in Philly is increasingly difficult and she has very legitimate concerns for her safety. Maria is only seeking $6,000 so that she can resettle. I'm hoping that we can raise that in a few days and continue the sustained support that June (Pixie) needs in order to stay in hiding with her children. You can also donate to Maria on Venmo at @Maria-Hardy-5@

Donate to Maria on GoFundMe here

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Please read this incredibly important article by Aishah Shahidah Simmons. Her love and empathy for the MOVE survivors shines brightly through, and her writing provides an incredibly valuable critical lens. Please share this piece widely. I plan to keep writing as things unfold, but I would be very happy if my writing was one of many perspectives trying to understand how we arrived here and offering concrete support to the survivors.

In Survivor Solidarity: I BELIEVE June, Maria, Josh, Michelle-Whit, Salina, and Sara

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Yesterday's episode of Murder at Ryan's Run is helpful for understanding the origins of this podcast series. Many have asked, "how did a podcast that was originally going to focus on the history of MOVE change its focus to the murder of John Gilbride?" It also explains how in process of investigating the murder, relationships were built that allowed victims of abuse come forward, and the podcast also became a vehicle to protect those victims by publicly highlighting their stories. This is a long, complex, and tangled story, but today's episode goes a long way towards clarifying the starting point.

Also, the experience of Andino Ward, the father of Birdie Africa/Michael Moses Ward, fits in with a long pattern of fathers being forcefully separated from their children within MOVE. Andino was threatened with death if he continued trying to find his son. There are striking similarities between that of Andino Ward and John Gilbride. In the next few days, I'll be doing a commentary on the episode and making some of these connections more explicit.

Listen to the episode here:

Murder at Ryan's Run, Episode 2: A is for Anarchism

(Credit for this image goes to Aishah Shahidah Simmons)

Click here to support Pixie

Click here to support Maria

Click here to listen to the podcast

Click here to follow "Murder at Ryan's Run" on Instagram

Click here to follow "Murder at Ryan's Run" on Facebook

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Group Statement from Former MOVE Members and Supporters (Updated Aug. 9, 2021)

Hello,

We are former MOVE members and supporters writing to address matters that are deeply concerning. We’ve all chosen to take part in the “Murder at Ryan’s Run” podcast to tell our stories and shine light on aspects of MOVE that have been obscured from journalistic scrutiny. We’re aware that for many who have supported MOVE this information will come as a shock. MOVE is good at controlling their own narrative and in gaining support from well-intentioned and kind-hearted people. We understand this and we ask that you take the time to understand what we, and others, are saying in this letter and will be heard saying on the podcast.

At the time of the release of this document June Stokes (known as Pixie Africa, daughter of Pam Africa) has left MOVE and is already in hiding with her kids. As you listen to the podcast and read the LEAVING MOVE blog you will understand why. We have reason to believe that as a result of speaking out, June's life is in imminent danger. The only thing that will protect her is for people to continue to monitor the situation and to spread the word.

Some of the things that will be addressed on the podcast are:

--A pattern of child abuse that June, Josh, Whit, Sara, Salina, Maria, Rain, and many others have experienced, and that is consistent with patterns of abuse that have been ongoing throughout the near 50 years that MOVE has existed.

--A consistent pattern of direct threats and intimidation against people who want to leave MOVE and tell the truth about their experiences. Some defectors have been threatened and there are many MOVE-related deaths or murders that are very suspicious, namely the 2002 murder of John Gilbride.

--A myriad of financial crimes and other ways that MOVE has exploited the political support they receive in order to benefit MOVE’s leadership (not Pam and Ramona Africa, the real leaders of MOVE are Sue Africa (Sue Levino) and Alberta Africa (Alberta Wicker)

These issues are just a small portion of what is documented in the podcast. MOVE’s history is long and complex and it will take time to lay the groundwork for the realities of MOVE to be properly understood. We feel the need to address all of these issues publicly for a few reasons:

--June has been trying to leave MOVE for many years, but without public awareness around her situation MOVE leadership will either take her children from her or kill her (they have threatened to do so many times).

--MOVE has been getting very favorable news coverage lately that only serves to embolden MOVE leadership and allows them to continue their patterns of abuse.

--Since the release of the HBO documentary “40 Years a Prisoner” Mike Africa Jr. has been working to rebrand a more marketable version of MOVE for his own personal gain. His portrayal of MOVE whitewashes the lived experience of children born into MOVE, and others, like John Gilbride, who was murdered during a custody battle with his ex-wife, Alberta Africa, the leader of MOVE.

The undersigned of this letter are asking for the following:

--We are asking journalists to consider this information when reporting on MOVE and to dig more deeply into MOVE’s history.

--We’re also asking other current and former MOVE members to speak out about the real history of MOVE in order to protect June, Josh, Whit, Salina, Sara, Maria, Rain, and many others who have suffered as a result of being born into MOVE. We recognize that many MOVE members will be uncomfortable with inner circle knowledge being revealed publicly. However, continuing to promote the romanticized past of MOVE creates the conditions that allow for the ongoing suffering of many who were born into MOVE, as well as other victims of MOVE such as the Gilbride family.

--We are calling on MOVE members of good conscience to begin to tell the truth about MOVE history, including the events that led up to the 1978 and 1985 confrontations, the treatment of children, and any information related to the harassment and/or murder of John Gilbride.

It is also worth noting that all of the testimony that is being released on the podcast is already recorded and is safely being stored in multiple places so that it can be released to authorities should the need arise. If any of us end up missing, are hurt, or are killed it will not stop our recordings from being released, it will only expedite the exposure of the reality of MOVE. This may sound overdramatic but consider that many people were too fearful to speak on this podcast and Alberta Africa's ex-husband was murdered in 2002. After you hear our stories we believe that you will understand.

Sincerely,

June Stokes (Pixie Africa, daughter of Pam Africa)

Whit Sims (Whit Africa, daughter of Mike Africa Sr. and Debbie Africa, sister of Mike Africa Jr.)

Josh Robbins (Josh Africa, son of Mary and Mo Africa, co-defendant in the 1981 Federal trial against MOVE’s founder, John Africa )

Salina Robbins (Lina Africa, daughter of Whit Sims, niece of Mike Africa Jr., granddaughter of Mike Africa Sr. and Debbie Africa, and Mo and Mary Africa)

Sara Robbins (Sara Africa, daughter of Whit Sims, niece of Mike Africa Jr., granddaughter of Mike Africa Sr. and Debbie Africa, and Mo and Mary Africa)

Maria Hardy (Maria Africa, daughter of Theresia Africa and Mario Hardy)

Rain Robbins (Rain Africa, a third-generation MOVE member from the line of Mo and Mary Africa)

Mario Hardy (known by many as Mario Africa, former MOVE supporter of 15 years)

Oom Harrison (known by many as Buck Africa, ex-husband of Pam Africa, father of Pixie and Rose, MOVE supporter from 1979-1984, made a MOVE member in 1984)

Maiga Milbourne (former MOVE Supporter of 17 years)

Bob Massey (former MOVE supporter of over a decade)

Ellie Crompton-Massey (former MOVE supporter of over a decade)

Kevin Price (former MOVE Supporter of 19 years)

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Recap: new podcast episode, survivor solidarity piece, and funds to help survivor Maria relocate

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