What About John Gilbride?

(Pic of John Gilbride)


That should be the question that is asked anytime the issue of MOVE or even Mumia is raised.

For those of you who aren’t aware, the issue of Mumia’s guilt and possibility of freedom is settled and the possibility of MOVE members being released on parole after being convicted of murdering James Ramp is not very likely.

So why even bother arguing back and forth with Mumia and MOVE supporters on these issues? Part of winning a fight is knowing that it is ok to walk away when the battle is over. Let them have their protests and yell at empty buildings. They mean nothing now.

What does still count is that justice has not been done for John and I hold onto the idea that bringing his killers to justice is not at all an impossible dream. Time has certainly passed and while trails may go cold, our collective resolve to see the guilty be brought forth does not have to diminish.

I continue to argue that the best thing that most of us can do with regards to bringing John’s killers to justice is to not let his memory and what happened to him at the hands of MOVE members and supporters be erased MOVE wants John Gilbride permanently deleted from the records of the group’s history. The cult so dependant on its martyrs wants people to forget the name of a man who they claim was executed by the government. This massive contradiction should raise suspicions in the minds of even those people who know nothing else about John’s murder.

What can be done to keep John out there is to use any and every mention of MOVE or Mumia in the media, on websites, really any forum possible, as an opportunity to raise the issue of John Gilbride’s killing and the “suspicious” circumstances surrounding it. The is the antidote to sitting around with frustration at the thought of powerlessness in the face of what I think has been demonstrated to be the pure wickedness that is MOVE.

As someone who lived in the midst of MOVE, I know the effect that the publicity and pressure on the group had on many of its supporters and even some of its members. The anxiety and fear it brought, also brought with it some sense of self-reflection. No longer could MOVE’s contradictions be so easily overlooked, the consequences of its ideology were there for anyone who could open their eyes to see. MOVE has not recovered from the controversy brought forth by John’s murder.

I am going to go out on a limb and say that there aren’t too many people who will devote themselves to MOVE’s mission (not that they really have one anymore), when they find out the group is suspected in murdering a former adherent. The parole board probably isn’t going to release MOVE members while the cult is under scrutiny for yet another murder.

If MOVE or Mumia is mentioned in the newspaper up in Philly, please be ready to send letters or to make phone calls to raise the issue of John’s murder. If you hear of Ramona Africa speaking at some college in your area, contact the students and let them know the kind of people they are bringing onto campus, etc…These things do make a difference and is much better than doing nothing.