Delbert Africa was locked up for decades. Once a member of the Move 9 - a persecuted group of Philadelphia-based revolutionary Black political prisoners who were targeted, BOMBED, and locked up by police for taking a stand - Delbert now is staring freedom in its face!
Delbert was arrested when police attacked the MOVE organization’s communal home over 40 years ago for an officer’s death the nine couldn’t have possibly committed.
He was beaten and abused when cops took him in, an incident there’s still footage of today.
Delbert Africa is the latest Move 9 member to be freed - only one other member is still in prison (Chuck Africa). Two of the Move 9 died in prison, but others have recently been freed, thanks to legal and community support. This comes after a long struggle to make a dream a reality.
Delbert’s daughter, Delisha, was one of the children killed when police bombed the MOVE organization in 1985. Now, he’s free to be with his other daughter, Yvonne Orr-El, after all these years. And he says he’s doing much better now that he’s not locked up.
Congratulations to Delbert Africa on his release. Here’s to hoping that the last Move 9 member, Chuck, makes it out of prison soon, too!