Phil Africa
Phil Africa was a member of MOVE, a husband of 44 years to Janine Africa, a father and a brother. He taught himself to paint, gave his paintings to supporters, wrote many letters to people around the world, and taught others to box and to think. He died on January 10, 2015, at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas, where he was held, after several days in hospital in the week before his death. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the local coroner said he died of natural causes. MOVE says he was secretly taken to a hospital, kept out of contact, and died under suspicious circumstances, and it disputes the official account.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (disputed). The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the local coroner say he died of natural causes, while MOVE disputes the official account, saying he was secretly taken to a hospital, kept incommunicado, and died under suspicious circumstances.
Reported by: Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); local coroner; MOVE (advocates).