Janine Africa and Janet Africa

Janine Africa and Janet Africa. SLL photo: Greg Butterfield

Janine Africa and Janet Africa are two of the surviving MOVE 9 activists who recently won release after decades in prison. They described the hell they went through in Pennsylvania prisons. They and the other MOVE 9 members were beaten by guards.

Upon arriving in prison, Janet and Janine were immediately put in “the hole” — solitary confinement. The warden told them they would stay there and they did stay there for a long time.

In 1985, the women were told that their children had been killed while they were still in solitary confinement. The guards told them their children were dead without further explanation. They had to rely on overheard conversation among other prisoners in the prison yard to glean that the Philadelphia police and FBI had bombed the MOVE house on Osage Avenue on May 13, 1985, killing six adults and five children.

Janine Africa and Janet Africa have not been crushed by the horrendous ordeals they have suffered. They say it is the unbroken solidarity of the MOVE family and support of many others that gave them the strength to survive. 

Janine said: “For 41 years, they have tried to beat us down. They have tried to take our health. They have tried everything to stop us because they couldn’t stop us no other way.

“We have a family that is so strong and supportive. They had our backs and we rode on their strength and that made us strong. We can’t stop talking about it because we know how important that is.  

“We are out here fighting for everybody, whether you are white, Black, Chinese. We know this system is on pins and needles because we are coming out!”

Read about Janine and Janet Africa’s historic visit to Southern California at tinyurl.com/vhhaxr8

Struggle - La Lucha

Recent Posts

Building a people’s media: The antidote to imperialist disinformation

On the second full day of the third annual International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of…

5 hours ago

Díaz-Canel: ‘To publish is to resist’ in fight against imperialism

Havana, Oct. 19 — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez addressed the Third International Meeting of…

22 hours ago

Struggle ★ La Lucha PDF – October 20, 2025

Get PDF here STOP the U.S. war on VENEZUELA! Harlem honors George Floyd Say his…

23 hours ago

No Kings, No Empire: Protest and the war economy

Millions filled the streets on Oct. 18. The “No Kings” protests erupted in more than…

1 day ago

Thousands rally against Trump in New Orleans, could have taken the streets

New Orleans, Oct. 18 – Thousands came out to the “No Kings” rally,  joining protesters…

2 days ago

Nader Sadaqa: The Samaritan warrior who shatters Israel’s myths

The United States and Israel don't want you to know about Nader Sadaqa. He was…

2 days ago