Today in History, November 18th, 1978918 members of the “People’s Temple” cult com
Today in History, November 18th, 1978918 members of the “People’s Temple” cult commit suicide at Jonestown. The cult, led by Jim Jones, moved from the United States to Guyana (South America) and formed a commune called “Jonestown” in 1976. Jim Jones prophesied that there would be a destructive nuclear war between the US and the Soviet Union, and the cult moved to Guyana to avoid the fallout. On the morning of November 18th, 1978, Congressman Leo Ryan visited Jonestown to investigate rumors of abuse and mistreatment, as well as other concerns by family members. Ryan left with 14 members who chose to leave Jonestown and return home. In response to Ryan’s visit and the departure of 14 “defectors”, Jones ordered the mass suicide of the entire cult. Members drank grape Flavor Aide mixed with valium, cyanide,phenergan, and chloral hydrate. Most members committed suicide willingly. Those who didn’t were forcibly restrained and injected with poison. Jim Jones himself committed suicide with a pistol. A handful of members were able to survive the event by hiding or escaping into the jungle.In the meantime, as Congressman Ryan and his party of “defectors” were boarding planes at an airstrip, when a number of armed cult members ambushed them, shooting and killing six, among them Congressman Ryan who was shot 20 times. 9 others were wounded. -- source link
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