MOVE lies about John Gilbride Part 1: Play The Tape

Murder at Ryan's Run: exposing the cult of John Africa

When MOVE feels threatened, they turn to friendly media outlets to control their narrative. This episode takes you inside a revealing 2005 WURD Radio broadcast where MOVE members responded to a Fox News segment about the unsolved murder of John Gilbride. The previously unreleased audio exposes how cult propaganda works in real-time.
Ramona Africa, MOVE's Minister of Information, leads a coordinated response where members employ classic manipulation tactics: denying involvement in John's murder while simultaneously casting doubt on whether he was actually killed, deflecting attention to a mysterious "Dominican wife," and portraying themselves as victims of media persecution. Most disturbing is their repeated suggestion that John's son was MOVE's property, not an individual with rights to know his father.
What makes this exploration particularly powerful is hearing MOVE members' own words contradicting themselves over time. Mike Africa Jr, who in 2005 participated in MOVE's character assassination of John, portrays him as "a good dude" and even a friend in his 2024 memoir—claiming John's murder "fucked him up." These contradictions reveal how propaganda evolves when organizations fear losing control of their narrative.
The episode also connects dots around Alberta Wicker's strange decision to change her surname to "Gilbridge" after John's death—matching a typo on his autopsy report—raising questions about possible financial motivations.
Former MOVE members have alleged that they believe the group is somehow involved in John's murder. Their testimonies, combined with MOVE's own recorded words from 2005, paint a disturbing picture of how authoritarian groups weaponize media to intimidate critics, rewrite history, and maintain control over their followers.

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The producers of this podcast wish to stress that all individuals reference in this series are presumed innocent unless or until they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law in the United States of America.

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Executive Produced, reported, hosted, and edited by Beth McNamara
Additional research by Robert Helms
Murder At Ryan's Run
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All individuals referenced in this podcast are presumed to be innocent unless or until they are found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a United States court of law.

Chapters

1. MOVE's Media Strategy Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Ramona Africa Responds to Fox News (00:02:17)

3. MOVE's Defense Against Murder Accusations (00:06:54)

4. Claims About John Gilbride's Death (00:10:38)

5. Teresa Africa Joins the Conversation (00:17:30)

6. Mike Africa Jr's Book Contradictions (00:24:51)

7. Revisiting Mike's Earlier Statements (00:36:29)

8. Pam Africa's False Claims (00:54:40)

9. Final Reflections on MOVE's Tactics (01:02:51)