In 1978, 909 americans were led to mass murder suicide by rev. Kennedy jfk cults spree killers ted bundy injustice born to kill lee harvey oswald columbine 911. Jonestown was an official selection of numerous 2006 film festivals. Underground knowledge a discussion group jonestown. Richard cavendish published in history today volume 58 issue 11 november 2008. He appears with a handful of others in shan nicholsons twopart storyville documentary jonestown. Many of jones followers willingly ingested a poisonlaced punch while others were forced to do so at gunpoint. Cult leader jim jones orchestrates a mass murdersuicide in jonestown. Revisiting the cult that ended with the deaths of 900 today duration. The death toll exceeded 900, including some 300 who were age 17 and under, making the incident one of the largest mass deaths in american history. Jonestown, where he orchestrated a mass suicide with poisoned flavor aid.
On november 18, 1978, 909 temple members died, all but two of which from cyanide poisoning, forming the largest mass suicide in modern history. An audio recording made on november 18, 1978, at the peoples temple compound in jonestown, guyana immediately preceding and during the mass suicide and murder of over 900 members of the cult. It ended in tragedy when followers of peoples temple agricultural project, better known as jonestown, committed mass suicide. Jonestown cult ended in mass suicide of 909 with mothers. Featuring neverbeforeseen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the peoples temple, headed by preacher jim jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via tainted punch. Cult education institute group information archives. If something other than the mass suicide the history books inform us happened in 1978 at jonestown, then what did. More than 900 people perished in the jonestown mass suicide of november 18th 1978. The jonestown massacre took place on november 18, 1978, after more than 900 members of an american cult called the peoples temple died in a mass suicide murder under the direction of their. Plunged into a new world, those raised in the temple or. The world learns about mass murder suicide in jonestown orchestrated by cult leader jim jones. This featurelength docudrama tracks the final buildup to a horrific doomsday.
Jonestown cult ended in mass suicide of 909 as jim jones devoted followers drank cyanidelaced kool aid jonestown cult survivor recalls horrifying massacre in new documentary. Why did jim jones, a charismatic american preacher and leader of the peoples temple, compel his members in 1978 to perform revolutionary suicide. Msnbc documentary 2009 cult david koresh branch davidians. Jonestown cult suicides the true story documentary. In the road to jonestown, jeff guinn, the author of a national bestseller on mass murderer charles manson, tells the fascinating story of jones and his church. Notes i acquired the source cassette tape from a schoolmate c. An aerial view of the mass suicide at jonestown, guyana, which took place 40 years ago, on 18 november 1978. Featuring never beforeseen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the. Those who experienced jonestown claim that it was a nice place to live until jim jones arrived. On november 21, 1978, the new york timesin a gesture normally reserved by that somber and august institution for the outbreak of war or the arrival of peacecarried a full sevencolumn frontpage headline.
How jim jones trapped followers and forced suicides. This instalment takes viewers back to november 18th 1978, and the apparent mass suicide by over 900 members of a religious cult and the murders of a us congressman and an investigating journalist. This is the true story of the five days that lead up to the jonestown cult suicides. Terror in the jungle adfree on all your favorite devices. This amazing 2007 pbs documentary tells the story of the peoples temple the cult that carried out a shocking mass suicide in november 1978 that claimed the lives of more than 900 followers. Jim jones onethird of the dead at jonestown were children.
The last of jonestown, a radio documentary that first aired in 1981, recaptures the final months for the peoples temple cult before a mass suicide and murder in jonestown. Jonestown cult suicides the true story documentary youtube. God gives the precious gift of life, whatever its torments or pain, and we can no more sanction the taking of ones own life than the taking of the lives of others. Inside jonestown the jonestown massacre 2019 documentary. The jonestown massacre was a mass suicide that happened 30 years ago, november 18, 1978, in northwestern guyana. Jonestown massacre survivors recount hell of mass suicide. On november 18, 1978, in what became known as the jonestown massacre, more than 900 members of an american cult called the peoples temple died in a mass suicidemurder under the direction of. Jim jones, the religious cult leader and civil rights activist, hinted at things to come. Audio recording of mass suicide an audio recording of the mass suicides in mp3 and flac formats list of who died at jonestown alternative considerations of jonestown and peoples temple, san diego state university, documented attempts to gain u. The 918 deaths in guyana under cult leader jim jones were more mass murder than suicide. Four other temple members committed murdersuicide in georgetown at jones command. Find highquality jonestown stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. The jonestown dead are treated as deviant and dangerous. The headline read, 400 are found dead in mass suicide by cult.
Revisiting the cult that ended with the deaths of 900. On november 18, 1978, in what became known as the jonestown massacre, more than 900 members of an american cult called the peoples temple died in a mass suicidemurder under the direction. Jonestown cult suicides cult documentary r cult documentary archive. Jim jones jonestown documentary jim jones and the peoples temple. In the course of making a documentary film called after jonestown featuring survivors and relatives of those who died i was often asked, what can. The life and death of peoples temple features neverbeforeseen footage that helps to deliver a startling new look at the peoples temple, a religious cult headed by preacher jim jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via. The life and death of peoples temple, is a 2006 documentary film. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Hundreds of bodies are strewn across the jonestown commune in jonestown, guyana where more than 900 members of the peoples temple committed suicide in november 1978.
Jonestown remained the largest loss of american civilian life in a single nonnatural disaster until the deaths that occurred in the us on 911 in 2001. This documentary tells the devastating and harrowing tale of the peoples temple cult, led by jim jones. The story that occasioned this uncharacteristic expression of urgency is by. In contrast, most sources today refer to the deaths with terms such as mass murder suicide, a massacre, or simply mass murder. Deep in the south american jungle they set about building a new community and called it jonestown, it was to be their paradise on earth but. Jonestown massacre takes the lives of hundreds in a mass. In 1978, cult leader jim jones lures his followers to jonestown, guyana where they commit mass suicide of 918 adults and children. Jonestown, november 18, 1978, location of the mass murdersuicide of members of the californiabased peoples temple cult at the behest of their charismatic but paranoid leader, jim jones, in jonestown agricultural commune, guyana. Doing justice to jonestown alternative considerations of.
Sadly, the peoples temple is most famously known for their mass suicide, which ended in the deaths of over 900 cult members, including 300 of their own children in their guyana settlement of jonestown. Cult leader jim jones leads his followers to a masssuicide. Terror in the jungle all episodes available to stream. James warren jones known as jim jones leader of the peoples temple, made a cult. This november 1978 file photo shows the bodies of peoples temple mass suicide victims led by jim jones in jonestown, guyana. Sometimes these involved mock mass suicides where followers, including children, lined up and drank liquid they were told was laced with poison, only to be told it was a test of loyalty. Terms used to describe the deaths in jonestown and georgetown evolved over time. On this day in 1978, peoples temple founder jim jones leads hundreds of his followers in a mass murdersuicide at their agricultural commune in a remote part of the south american nation of guyana.
Many contemporary media accounts after the events called the deaths a mass suicide. The road to jonestown tells horrifying tale of mass suicide. Whether you call it mass suicide, suicide murder or simply mass. This feature length film, a hybrid of documentary and drama, tracks the final, 5 day build up to a horrific doomsday the infamous mass murdersuicides of jim jones peoples temple on november. The problematic story of the jonestown corpses examines the issues that arose with handling the bodies after the mass suicide of peoples temple members on the jonestown site in 1978. From pbs american experience documentary series, jonestown. It began as charismatic preacher jim jones attempt to build a socialist utopia, but it ended with the deaths of more than 900 people in a remote settlement in guyana known as jonestown. Dozens of members in guyana slipped out of jonestown or happened to be away that day. The peoples temple agricultural project, better known by its informal name jonestown, was a.