John Africa, five other adults and five children died in the resulting fire. Although the members were all huddled in the basement with access to a back alley, the alley was under police gunfire. The lone surviving woman described bullets flying all around during her first escape attempt, and the lone surviving child described hearing the sound of automatic gunfire when they tried to flee from the fire. Police officers at the scene denied these claims. Only Ramona and Birdie Africa survived, though both suffered severe burns. Birdie was released but Ramona was convicted and sentenced to serve the maximum sentence of 7 years in prison. She served the full time. Despite the fact that the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments were found guilty of negligence by the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission (MOVE) no criminal charges were ever filed against any of the perpetrators of the bombing, arson, and resulting deaths. Teachings John Africa has been classified as an anarcho-primitivist. His teachings emphasized the importance of all life and the ways in which capitalism, war, racism, and other social forces serve as direct opposition to this reality. He encouraged strict vegetarianism, raw food, and communal living. According to MOVE's website, "John Africa despises prejudice, despised the man-made standard of inferior-superior," and "John Africa teach MOVE people to believe in and love life, to understand the absolute necessity of life and protect all life equally, meaning all living beings (people, animals, water, soil, air)". Influence on others Philadelphia activist Mumia Abu-Jamal has followed the teachings of John Africa, and was a supporter of the MOVE organization. During Abu-Jamal's 1982 murder trial for the death of a police officer, Abu-Jamal made repeated requests to be represented by Africa. The judge denied these requests as Africa was not a licensed attorney. See also Black nationalism Development criticism References 1931 births 1985 deaths Activists from Philadelphia African-American anarchists African-American United States Army personnel American anti-capitalists American environmentalists Anarcho-primitivists Deaths from fire in the United States Founders of new religious movements Political activists from Pennsylvania United States Army personnel of the Korean War United States Army soldiers African Americans in the Korean War