From the KQED Archives: 40th Anniversary of the Jonestown Massacre

[@jeromeswanson9265]

I truly miss this kind of amazing journalism!

[@mideleon]

Am I misunderstanding the woman at the end? She says she has no bitterness toward Jim Jones over “what he had to do,” and that “it was the best choice he could make at that time.” Ugh.

[@Crazyerics]

Sadly, you are not misunderstanding. She demonstrates just how much mind control Jim had achieved over years of conditioning his followers within People's Temple. On this point specifically, Jim had convinced those with him at Jonestown that day that a "revolutionary act of suicide" was the only form of escape from what he envisioned was a pending invasion from the US after the murder of the Senator that same day. Jim had also previously "practiced" mass-suicide events in an effort to test his people's commitment to his cause. There were several survivors back in San Fransisco that were devoted to this cause and "understood" or accepted the outcome as "right"

[@laquitagilmer5656]

michael del ikr... Can anyone say, Coo. Coo ? 😳😳😳

[@Pepsolman]

You are correct. She declares that killing 300 innocent children was the best decision Jones could’ve made at that time and she was willing to commit suicide as well.

[@1990758]

She's not the only one that feels that way

[@dmmchugh3714]

Yes I also don't understand her statement : Jones 'did what he had to do' and it 'was the best he could do at the time ' ? Is she crazy ? And when she says she would have fought long and hard 'for what we had in Jonestown '.....exactly what did they have there anyway ? Without cognitive or emotional freedom , what good would a 'heaven on earth ' be ?

[@shannynmartin3157]

I hope that lady at the end came to her senses at some point. It's sick to hear her acting like Jim made some difficult, necessary decision when in all reality the destruction of Jonestown was entirely his fault.

[@c.costanza1145]

Francis Johnson was her name. She was a true believer

[@TheJpep2424]

A true brainwashed cult member.

[@AwkwardRabbit]

He's right, they aren't monsters. Jones was!

[@joemartin1253]

Malevolent Media So what your saying is the children were monsters too?!

[@maryyoung777]

Who was that guy saying we're not monsters?

[@Mr.ToadsWildWildin]

@@maryyoung777 I believe it was Tim Clancey, head of the Peoples Temple Print Shop/Publications Department. His wife Mary Lou died at Jonestown.

[@maryyoung777]

@@Mr.ToadsWildWildin Hey, thanks.

[@letsgobrandon7297]

@AwkwardRabbit: No there was many members who were just as bad as him.

[@cbthethird]

Thanks for posting this rare footage.

[@1990758]

Nothing's rare

[@c.costanza1145]

@@1990758 then why didn’t you post it, genius?

[@ChadElk88]

Nicely made video. Thanks for uploading.

[@KMMME]

3:40 Thats the craziest statement ever.

[@harryrobson5987]

Yeah she’s just as bad she’s a maniac

[@amycrumedy6586]

That crazy black lady at the end Omg it is easy for her to say because she did not lose her life .

[@katemaloney4296]

I have a feeling she would have been one of those people in the crowd cheering and demanding old people be slapped and physically punished for wanting to back home to see their families.

[@c.costanza1145]

Francis Johnson was her name. She was a true believer and longtime member.

[@blinderII]

It's still hard to believe this happened. Hard to believe it's been 40 years. RIP.

[@1990758]

November 18th 1978

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I've always been sort of confused. Wondering why there are nowhere near 900 people in any photos total...I mean, if you start counting them.

[@letsgobrandon7297]

@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823: Watch the video of the congressman going there, their was 3 ft machine ruts around the pavilion….the bodies were stacked on top of each other.

[@XhrisSharp]

i watched a lot of this year and heard about jonestown and peoples temple in past year and honest to god i did not know this year was gonna be 40 years since that tragedy happen and i did my research in April which led me to the anniversary. 900 cant be crazy they was tricked.

[@AboveSanity000]

They was tricked and later forced when they woke up

[@martinda7446]

I know it's a minor thing but it is, They *were* tricked.

[@amycrumedy6586]

3:37 you should have been there instead of those kids.

[@thegamingduo720]

They brought their bodies back to family & friends, hoping that now their souls are at piece from the truth being told ❤ so so sad!

[@TheJpep2424]

Peace only comes from Jesus Christ. He is the only truth.

[@jeromeswanson9265]

The real footage of moscone is interesting to see..

[@danprado3020]

So sad.

[@AboveSanity000]

This is what religion does to u when u looking for a savior through mortal psycho pastors. These stories have helped me remember to follow no one. U don't need a mediator between u and the creator to lead u as blind sheep. If u truly believe in a UNSEEN GOD and it works for u... never follow mankind. They lost too learning the path. Be a Oracle guide not God over humankind to follow u = red flag

[@pauljohnson6019]

Never trust any religious leader- they should have killed Jim, before Jim killed them!

[@НастяУкраїнка-у4м]

There is one mediator - The Church of Jisus Crist 2000 years old.

[@1990758]

I agree

[@chiefydeez]

Socialism isn't a religion, it's a shimmering dictator magnet wrapped in false narratives.

[@GracyBeeBee]

Catholic and super agree with this. The moment you begin to idolize pastors, you are screwed.

[@katemaloney4296]

Manson: I viciously murdered 9 innocent people and struck fear into society so I could start a "race war" and be declared the leader of the world! Jim Jones: Brother, hold my flavor-aid.

[@probunnysaavy7589]

Brain-washed!

[@dr.miguelitoloveless9478]

....exactly

[@ricky8alta]

And Trump would had done the same thing if allowed

[@1990758]

So very interesting hypothesis all politicians tell you what you want to hear show you what you want to see so you can follow them vote for them believe in them. Same thing in a relationship

[@katemaloney4296]

No. Can't say that I had the urge to take my life. However, it wasn't the Right who had school children singing "Barack Hussein Obama! Mmmm! Mmmm! Mmmm!" or having their candidate make speeches in replicas of the great Roman columns.

[@dr.peppermintpatty4925]

​@@katemaloney4296it was the political right that called Barack Obama a Muslim and all other racist epithets during and after his presidency...

[@PetrisonRocha]

I'm not American, but interest of you to say Trump would do something like this, when this was literally done by a SOCIALIST cult. You're projecting, bro.

[@nuffzed2001]

we have a new cult! cult covidian!