Parole denied for three MOVE members

Three MOVE members who have been behind bars since the 1978 shoot-out that killed Philadelphia Police Officer James Ramp were denied parole yesterday amid wide opposition to their release.

Debbie Sims Africa, Janet Hollaway Africa and Jeanene Phillips Africa were informed of the decision by the state Board of Probation and Parole, as well as the reasons for the rejection, board spokesman Leo Dunn said.

Dunn said each was informed that she had minimized or denied the "nature and circumstances" of the offense, "refused to accept responsibility," and lacked remorse.

He said the fourth reason for the rejections was the "negative recommendation" by the prosecutor.

Decisions are still pending for four other MOVE members eligible for parole consideration this month - Delbert Orr Africa, Edward Goodman Africa, William Phillips Africa and Michael Davis Africa. Five of nine votes would be required for parole to be granted.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office urged the board to require the defendants to serve the maximum of their 30- to 100-year prison terms. The city Fraternal Order of Police also weighed in against parole.

In a statement yesterday, District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham said she and her prosecutors agreed with the board's decision. "They should serve as much time as possible," she said of the defendants.

Assistant District Attorney John Delaney, who had urged the board to deny parole, said he was pleased that the three would remain behind bars.

"They proved by their actions in 1978 that they are extraordinarily dangerous. We have no reason to believe that's changed," said Delaney.

The seven were among nine MOVE members convicted in a 19-week trial in 1980. An eighth defendant, Charles Sims Africa, will be eligible for parole next year; a ninth died in prison.

All nine were found guilty of third-degree murder in the shooting death of Ramp and the attempted murders of seven others shot and injured that day, when police tried to evict 12 adults and 11 children from their headquarters at 33d and Pearl Streets in Powelton Village.

MOVE began as a radical back-to-nature group. Over the years, it has become known for generating support for people it maintains have become political prisoners. It is not an acronym, and all members use the surname Africa.

The 1978 confrontation was a pivotal moment in the city's tortuous history with the group and ultimately set the stage for another disaster - the May 1985 fire that killed 11 MOVE members, including five children, and destroyed 61 houses in West Philadelphia. The 11 were killed after police dropped a bomb on the MOVE headquarters and decided to let it burn.