Remarks by Tim Carter

02-11-carter-speech
Photo by Rex Morningstar

Good afternoon. My name is Tim Carter. My son Malcolm, my sister Terry, my wife Gloria, my niece Kaywana, Chae-ok my nephew, Lew Jones my brother-in-law are some of the family that I lost in Jonestown. Malcolm is buried here –­ he was one of the babies – but our family chose to have Terry buried here because Peoples Temple was her family. Not only would she want to be buried with Chae-ok, she would want to be buried with her brothers and sisters that died in Jonestown. That’s what these two roses are for. I am so glad that finally there is a place that has the respect that the people who perished in Jonestown deserve. My intentionality for this place is that it be a place of healing, a place of understanding, a place of compassion, and that the wounds that still exist in all of our hearts in whatever way, both those that are here and those that are not here, that the energy be directed to them for healing for all. It’s been 32 years, and I’m sure, as those of us who survived know – for those who haven’t survived, I’m sure you’ve felt – it still hurts. It still hurts. To me, the greatest tragedy of Jonestown is that most people have no idea how great a tragedy it was, because they didn’t know the people. Malcolm, I love you and miss you. Gloria, I love you and miss you. Terry, I love you and miss you. To all good people who perished there, I love you and miss you. And to all my brothers and sisters here, I love you, and I’m glad I don’t have to say I miss you. Thank you.

Applause.