Debbie's 2013 Parole Denial

Above is a copy of the only rationale that has been provided to Debbie for her last parole denial in June 2013.  It lists the reasons for the denial as:

"Your minimization/denial of the nature and circumstances of the offense(s) committed," and
"The negative recommendation made by the prosecuting attorney."

Please take a moment to write a letter in support of parole for Debbie prior to her next hearing scheduled for in or after May 2014.  Even though the letter is addressed to the Parole Board, send your letter to The Move Organization at P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143 so they can be collected before they are passed on to the Board.  Please make sure your letter arrives by May 4th, and we will update the website asap with the outcome of her hearing.

Sample letter:

[Ideally, rephase this in your own words and send to the address above, but you can also download and print it so you can just write your name and address at the top and sign your name]

Board of Probation and Parole


Attn: Inmate Inquiry


1001 South Front Street, Suite 5300


Harrisburg, PA 17104

Regarding Parole Hearing for: Debbie Sims OO-6307

Debbie Sims has her next parole hearing scheduled for May of 2014.  As a concerned citizen interested in helping Debbie successfully transition into life outside prison, I am writing to ask that you please parole her at this hearing.  She has served over 35 years of a 30-100 year sentence for third-degree murder, even though the average sentence for that charge is 10-15 years.  She is still in prison years after her minimum sentence, despite having no major disciplinary problems in the last three decades.

The document provided to Ms. Sims for her last parole denial in June 2013 lists the reasons for the denial as:

"Your minimization/denial of the nature and circumstances of the offense(s) committed," and
"The negative recommendation made by the prosecuting attorney."

I am concerned that Ms. Sims maintaining her innocence is seen as an attempt to minimize or deny the nature and circumstances of the offense(s), even while there is evidence that corroborates that the shot was fired from a location where it is well known she was nowhere near.  This phenomenon is referred to as "the innocent prisoner's dilemma" by law professor Daniel Medwed who asserts that it is unfair and unethical to require a prisoner who may have been wrongly convicted to provide false admission of guilt or remorse.

In regards to the negative recommendation made by the prosecuting attorney, I believe this is outweighed by the fact that the officials at SCI Cambridge Springs, where Ms. Sims is held, have recommended her for parole.  These are the prison guards and personnel that she has contact with on a day-to-day basis as opposed to the prosecuting attorney who has had no contact with her at all in decades. 

Debbie Sims has now spent most of her life in prison, and the recidivism rate for people released at her age is very low.  Please grant parole and allow her to be a part of, and contribute to, society as free citizen, a loving mother and grandmother. 

Sincerely,

Audio of Delbert Africa of the MOVE 9:

http://www.prisonradio.org/media/audio/delbert-africa-sci-dallas-pa

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/05/13/survivor-remembers-bombing-of-philadelphia-headquarters/

By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — It’s been 28 years to the day since the City of Philadelphia dropped explosives on the MOVE headquarters on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia that set fire to an entire residential block.

The fire destroyed the homes of neighbors, who had grown impatient with the noise and conditions at the “back-to-nature” MOVE house.

Eleven people, including 5 children, were killed.

After nearly three decades, the memories of Monday, May 13th, 1985 are still etched in Ramona Africa’s mind.

At 58, she says she looks at the raised, scarred flesh on her arms and prays she’ll never forget the day the City of Philadelphia unleashed military force on her home.

“A lot of people have told me that these burn scars could be removed,” she says, “but why would I do that? I want to remember, and I don’t want others to forget.”

MOVE, the group Africa called “family,” was viewed as “radical” by the police. Africa says they were peaceful environmentalists that had a strong love for animals.

Authorities have said neighbors complained that members, who were mostly black, harassed passersby and lived in filth. Africa refutes the charge.

She claims MOVE was targeted because they refused to give up the effort to free the MOVE 9– the four women and five men convicted of the 1978 murder of Philadelphia police officer James Ramp.

Africa says members wanted them freed, so hostility between police, the city and the group escalated. It culminated in the 1985 bombing.

“The whole house shook, but we didn’t know what it was,” says Africa, recalling the moment the city dropped explosives on the MOVE home on Osage Avenue. “We didn’t even know initially that there was a fire.”

Africa says she was in the basement when the bomb hit.

She and her family were holed up, in a standoff with police and other city officials.

Africa says the authorities employed water tactics and tear gas…then the explosives.

“We tried to get our children, our animals, ourselves out of that blazing inferno,” she says. “And as the cops saw us coming out, they opened fire.”

Accounts of the day vary. Philadelphia police have disputed Africa’s account. She escaped, with injuries, along with one child survivor, Birdie Africa, who was 13 at the time.

“We never saw Birdie again after that until my criminal trial,” she says. “He testified. His mother was killed in the bombing.”

Africa spent seven years in prison for her part in the standoff, but no one from the city was ever charged. She filed a civil lawsuit against the city and won after years of litigation.

“I’m not bitter,” says Africa, “It was no coincidence or accident that I’m the one that survived.”

Africa has served as MOVE’s spokesperson for decades, appointed to the post by the group’s founder John Africa in 1979. She says her focus, her reason for continuing 28 years after one of the most horrific days of her life, is to gain freedom for the eight surviving members of the MOVE 9.

“Our family members have been in jail for 35 years now for a crime they didn’t commit,” says Africa. “They have seen the parole board numerous times, but the parole board refuses to give them parole.”

These days Africa hold lectures and other events on behalf of MOVE. And she seizes opportunities to tell her story and to keep the spotlight on the MOVE 9.

“My family is innocent and they know it,” she says, “so we’re not going to shut up, we’re not going anywhere.”

Remembering 1985!

S.O.U.L. (Students Organizing for Unity and Liberation) welcomes the public to a screening of "MOVE: A Documentary" with a post-film panel presentation.

"MOVE: A Documentary" focuses on the Move Organization and the repression they suffered from the racist and brutal policies of the Philadelphia police department and the US justice system during the 1970's and 1980's which led to the bombing of their Philadelphia residence by police.  Post-film screening we will have a panel discussion featuring Ramona Africa the sole adult survivor of the May 13, 1985 massacre of 11 members of the MOVE organization.


February 26th 5:30pm - 7:30pm Location: Claudia Cohen Hall G17 Class of 1969 Lecture Room

Screening of MOVE Documentary with Ramona Africa

The MOVE organization welcomes the public to a screening of "MOVE: Cohort Media" with a Q&A featuring Ramona Africa. This documentary focuses on the Move Organization and the repression they suffered from the racist and brutal policies of the Philadelphia police department and the US justice system during the 70s & 80s. Ramona Africa is the sole adult survivor of the May 13, 1985 massacre of 11 members of the MOVE organization. The FBI and the City of Philadelphia dropped a C4 bomb on MOVE's 6221 Osage Avenue home in West Philadelphia. Carrying the young Birdie Africa (the only other survivor) with her, Ramona dodged gunfire and escaped from the fire with permanent scarring from the burns. November 19th 1515 S. 4th Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Grindcore House) 7pm

MOVE members surrounding after the 1978 attack on their home.

Ramona Africa interview: "The MOVE 9 Trial"

After 34 years, MOVE 9 still in prison

After 34 years, MOVE 9 still in prison

Phil Africa of the MOVE 9

Ona MOVE for our Children!

Ona MOVE for our Children!
Patrick Murphy, MOVE Supporter

The MOVE 9 has been incarcerated for 34 years. 34 years ago they were punished for a taking a stand against this system. They stood against brutality, rape, racism, drugs and they stood against the destruction and exploitation of family. They stood for ALL LIFE. The struggle of living truth against power continues.

MOVE has long fought to protect children from the money first/slave based/murderous values- attacks of this system. A system that regularly beat and murdered move children and unborn babies- a system that seeks to destroy/control all of our children every day.

The systems power over our children is stronger then ever. The beautiful and natural process of childbirth and motherhood is under attack- at best it is disregarded as an inconvenience- at worst mother and children’s lives are considered worthless by man’s laws n courts.

The truth is that their lives are valued in accordance with the slave-colonial based/ white male patriarchal supremacy we all live under.

The mentality of this system commands greed and selfish pride as its major flag bearers. These ideals, passed down from generation to generation, continue to destroy all life. This is why we consider ourselves to be a society making great progress yet all of life- the air, water, and soil we need to live, continue to be further damaged everyday. This system financially thrives upon the 2 million people in the US incarcerated and the deaths of over 100,000 people each day
from starvation and poverty.

In order to destroy and exploit life the mind is conditioned, by the system, to thrive off of a false wholeness- a fake feeling of rightness through constant monetary based instant gratification. Everyone is addicted to feel good bullshit. These fake oddities of human advancement- these technological “advances” are leaving us lifeless- keeping us blind and or emotionally unavailable to the fact that all of our privileges hinge on the death and exploitation of all life. Instead of life, everyone derives there worth from the phone in their pocket, the label on their clothes, the name on their car, etc…

This system is everywhere, in everything, in every one of us. It imposes upon every aspect of life. Life has never been and never will be its goal. Its goal as built and maintained is to have more “capital gains”- more privileges - at any cost.

We need to free the MOVE 9 because they were imprisoned for being true protectors of all life. We need the MOVE 9 and all those who support life over money to work together to defeat this system.

The truth is that we must stop depending on this system to raise our children and change our lives; it is only making things worse. A definition of insanity: repeating the same thing over and expecting a different result. I’d say that definition fits perfectly to us who think we can make it through the system. The system has and always will fail life. Wake up people, please, now, before it is too late and humans are responsible for destroying all life. This is 34 years too long. We need our brothers and sisters back. We need to grow as a people in revolution with life - sharing in the life first example MOVE has given us. Free the MOVE 9 Now! We need them more then ever!

A message from Mike Africa, Sr. of the MOVE 9 for August 8 - recorded 8/5/12 http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/9962833/20194648/name/MichaelAfrica.mp3

Free the MOVE 9 Week!

For more information, please contact onamovellja@aol.com