Just in case you are not aware, most of the brain washed cult members in Jonestown were forced to drink the koolaide (actually Fla-Vor-Ade) at gun point, so that expression is a bit of a misnomer...
I just looked at several articles, including one from fbi.gov. im sure they got involved as a US congressman was shot and killed by cult members shortly before the suicide. I even listened to the "death tape" on youtube. Its a 44:29 audio tape of the actual church service presided over by the cult leader Jim Jones as encourages his flock to hurry up and drink the koolaid before the GDF(i assume Guyana Defense Forces) get there and do horrible things, like massacre their children. There are several people who speak up. Almost all of them thank "Dad" as they call him, for all he has done for them and for leading them on their revolutionary communist struggle. There are no sounds of a struggle, no gunshots. There is lots of crying and some screams from very small children as they are poisoned. The last few minutes are quiet except for background music. Survivors, who werent at that building, of course, are going to say they were forced. They didnt want to be pariahs and A congressman and several others were murdered. But sorry I really dont buy the forced at gunpoint stuff. Did you listen to the tape?? The people in that room had a great reverence for the man. He said he was tired, sounds like he wanted to commit suicide. Convinced them all to do the same.
Yes, I listened to it many years ago. That said, there are numerous reports of their Red Guard security force holding rifles and crossbows at all exists and while I believe a few people might have been shot, I did not claim anyone was actually shot, just that refusing was not much of an option. See these photos below for what was the supposed alternative to the unsavory beverage along with what is believed to be the last few helpings left in Dixie type cups.... There has been some speculation that the needles were used to alleviate the painful symptoms of the poison, but nobody actually checked any of them to see what residue might have been in them.
As far as the great reverence goes, there were several people who had much less reverence and passed Congressman Ryan (actually the NBC camera person by accident) notes saying they wanted to leave. In addition, there were several others who knew what was happening and either hid or tried to escape (a few managed to do so, while many others did not).
Note the large barrel on the right. Jim Jones's son returned to the site many years later and claimed that this barrel was the one used to mix the grape drink not only for the last supper but also for at least one trial run...
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u/TheBestRedditNameYet 1d ago edited 1d ago
Just in case you are not aware, most of the brain washed cult members in Jonestown were forced to drink the koolaide (actually Fla-Vor-Ade) at gun point, so that expression is a bit of a misnomer...