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Incarceration Nation

MOVE Women, Janet and Janine Africa, Free At Last!

By Mumia Abu-Jamal

For two MOVE women, Janet and Janine Africa, it had been decades since they walked the streets of Philadelphia, or rode in a car.

Decades?  Yes. Over four to be exact—exactly 41 years since the urban war in West Philadelphia, on August 8, 1978.

Just a few days ago, they walked away from Cambridge Springs Women’s prison, got into a car, and began the long-awaited trek home, some six months after their MOVE sister, Debbie Africa, was released.

For Janet and Janine, entering the car was a trip into the future, for the car was full of electronic gadgetry. Indeed, even before they entered the car, when they approached, the car door swung open—by itself.  One sister, having not traveled by car in decades, experienced a brief bout of carsickness.

But now, for the first time in 41 years, Janet and Janine can walk in a park and smell the flowers.

For the first time in 41 years, Janet and Janine can walk down a city street unencumbered.

For them, Philadelphia is surely not the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Janet and Janine Africa are the last MOVE women held after the MOVE confrontation of August 8th, 1978 when cops attacked the West Philly MOVE house.

Several MOVE brothers remain in prison.

Prison Radio, May 26, 2019

Write to Mumia at:

Smart Communications/PA DOC

Mumia Abu-Jamal #AM-8335

SCI Mahanoy

P.O. Box 33028

St. Petersburg, FL 33733

Editors Note: MOVE prisoner, Eddie Africa, also incarcerated in Pennsylvania for over 40 years, was paroled on June 21, 2019.