[Editor’s notes: The story of the Ponts family is similar to many others in Jonestown: Mother Lois and teenage daughter Donna had emigrated to Guyana and made their lives there. The rest of the family – especially Lois’ husband Don Ponts – was concerned about their relatives’ well-being and wanted them to return to the U.S. But their efforts backfired: whether true or not, Don became associated with the purported mercenaries who, according to Jim Jones in a tape from June 1978, “had plans to come and take their loved ones back, dead or alive by force.”
[This page was transcribed by Alexandra Prince, a professor of religious studies at Skidmore College, with the assistance of Alice Condry-Power, Ginny Hunt, Eli Jean-Francois, Cooper Rice, and Melanie Yaeger. The editors gratefully acknowledge their invaluable assistance.]
[These letters retain their original spelling and grammar, with corrections only for clarity and for names..]
EE-1-P-27a – 27b
Letter to Lois & Donna Ponts from Laura Thompson, Ukiah, Calif.
[letterhead of Thompson Dairy and Vineyard, Ukiah, California]
Dear Lois and Donna –
Received your letter dated July 29, 1977 and mailed Sept. 10. I received it in my mail Sept. 15. Didn’t take long after it was finally mailed. I think must have written the letter before moving to Guyana as I know about the time you left our country U.S.A. I do hope you found the country as you anticipated and are enjoying your new home. Why haven’t you or Donna written? I know about Don’s letter & telephone call. He is very ill. On a diabetic diet but can’t seem to make a come back. [illegible word] care. He was terribly hurt and Carolyn told me “Don cried all night.” I do not understand how this happened!? And why?
Have missed you very much, especially when I am eating figs under the tree! I think how you were looking forward to eating those figs with me, Lois.
Robin is doing fine and only gaining 2# a month. Have a small car and go places like to Redding & visit Danny’s [could be “Donny’s’] mother and Wayne. As you can see, Danny/Donny is not working. They are living very well on welfare.
Carolyn is in Hawaii also Bruce for 15 days – a gift from his base. All expenses paid. Bruce worked through the summer months and Carolyn filled in at the telephone job. Didn’t take their vacations, etc. This is their thanks, etc.
Lorraine on vacation tomorrow and will be back after them kids. Carl is in jail again.
Alice Mae is happy with her job of teaching at “The Trinity” and Leon is working extra at Fouts Liquor Store (!?) Making extra money to buy a trailer. There old one is feeling its age.
Glenda’s baby has continued to get cuter each day. Has 2 teeth in front and makes kissing noises with his mouth. Has eyes that smile. Dr. told her Glenda Friday that he was a full month ahead of himself. Erin is a very good baby to take care of.
Anita has her baby – a boy 9 1/2 #. Of course, her husband has left her! Is missing the biggest Blessing he will ever have.
Lynda & family doing well. Allen in High School.
Glenda & Lynda, Lisa & Bobbie and Erin went this past week to visit Laura. She is doing very well and they had a nice visit.
Andy is comming to visit & Jack too (Darn it I only say the one name) They will be here for our Birthday. Looking forward to their visit. They are so good and considerate of us. I hear from them all so often. My granddaughters are what keeps me alive.
Papa isn’t at all well. Please write and tell me how you are getting along etc.
Love always and kisses too
Grandma & Papa
—–
EE-1-P-32a – 32b
Aerogramme to Donna Ponts from relative in Carson City, Nevada
Oct. [date cut off] 1977
Dear Donna –
How are you? I hope all is well with you and your mom!
I guess you are pretty well use to your life in Guyana. I hope it is a very good life and you are happy.
Everything is going along fine here. Reno is unbelievable – it will soon be almost another Las Vegas if not bigger!! Also Lake Tahoe is growing – I am wondering where all the people are going to live.
Your dad bought himself a small trailer and seems to be enjoying fixing it up. I hope Uncle Dick and I can go over and see him soon. The trailer park is across from your Grandpa’s place.
Renee is going to Junior College at Lower Lake and seems to be doing OK.
We are having beautiful Fall weather, no rain so far. I hope it stays nice until after Nevada Day. Altho I don’t look forward to going by myself!!
I hope you will write and tell us what you want for Christmas. It won’t be long and we will need to get a package off next month. We wish you could be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Your dad is coming here Thanksgiving. Take care and be good to yourself. Love from Grandma and Dick.
Write to your dad he is waiting to hear from you.
—–
EE-I-P-33a – 33b
Aerogramme to Donna Ponts from relative in Carson City, Nevada
Carson City, Nev.
Sept. 24,1977
Dear Donna-
Here it is the beginning of Fall – Summer went by too fast! I guess your weather is very much the same in Guyana year round! I hope you are getting along O.K. Have you started school? I hope you will like school there. It will be a challenge!
Everyone is fine here – all working very hard as usual. Your dad is quite well – he sure misses you though. I would like to have him come here. We worry about him and wish we could see him more often.
Uncle Wick and I have been looking for a letter from you. I hope you received the letter I wrote to you. I hope you can come home for Christmas. I have some things for you and hesitate sending them because I want to be sure you will get them.
The weather is nice here, cool nights and warm days. Fall is here – we have had a little snow in the higher elevations.
October will be a busy month – Rhonda Jacobs is getting married Oct. 1st. Grandma Ponts’ will be read Oct. 6th. I would like to go to Fort Bragg to hear the will but probably won’t be able to – also I would go to Rhonda’s wedding. We always look forward to Nevada day.
We sure miss you, Donna, and hope you will write soon. Take care and be good to yourself!
Love you
Grandma Elsie and Uncle Dick
Scruffy is fine – he is 1 year old now!
—–
EE-1-P-34a – 34b
Aerogramme to Donna Ponts from father in Santa Rosa, Calif.
Sept 18 1977
Dear Donna,
I received a letter a couple weeks ago so thought I had better get busy and answer it.
I am not one bit happy that you are in South America. You say you are, but time will tell. I tried to tell you before but you wouldn’t listen. Hope your Mother is real happy. She should have her head checked.
Am trying to watch the football game before going to work. The Rams are playing the Falcons. So far the Rams are ahead.
I guess you know by now that great grandmother passed away. She was buried in Santa Rosa.
Your grandmother has your address so you should hear from her quite often.
It has been raining for a couple days. Sure is dry. We really need a lot of rain this winter.
I really don’t feel to good. Am glad I don’t have to take insulin. Sure miss sugar in my coffee.
Are you going to school? How about your teeth?
Renee is staying with her mother. She is going to school in Lake County.
I guess I had better close for now. Hope you are fine.
Love Dad
—–
EE-1-P-31a – 31b
Note from Donna Ponts
Dear father,
I am physically attracted to David George because we have been good friends ever since we worked together at the Piggery & I like to talk to him. I also am attracted to Michelle Touchette, Linda Arterberry and Juanita Bogue. I am good friends with them.
Donna Ponts
—–
EE-1-P-38
Statement by Donna Ponts
I believe in socialism because I know it’s the only right way to live, it is the only way for the world to survive. The people of the world are seeing that capitalism is oppressing them and that socialism is helping them overcome poverty, hunger. The people own everything collectively. In socialism the people are united and willing to fight and die before they will give in to the fascists. The people are able to express themselves and everyone is equal. In capitalism, people don’t want to get involved. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I know that soon the whole world will be socialistic because the world is made up of working (working) class people and socialism is designed to meet the needs for them. At first, yesterday I was shocked because I wasn’t expecting it, then I got scared, but then when you came around and I realized that I was one of the reasons all of this was happening and that you were willing to risk your life instead of sending me back to the States and I also thought of the other revolutionaries that gave their lives. I may be young but I’d rather fight and die than be a sellout.
Donna Ponts
—–
EE-1-P-35
Statement of Lois Ponts
August 11, 1977
Georgetown, Guyana
To all my comrades
I would choose to make a stand here for equality & justice if no other country would give the entire body asylum with the terms you have laid forth before the world. I go for the all or nothing rule. To much has been given much is required.
Lois A. Ponts
—–
EE-1-P-15
Self-analysis by Lois Ponts
30 Dec 77
Self analysis
Dad,
I am self-esteemed, stubborn, a dreamer & not facing reality retrospectively, thus an idealist which is antisocial because I must learn to look at things in three dimensions & not flat or one sided.
I will learn not to be critical, also, I will work on all these things very, very hard after all, what is more important than following my Dad’s example and becoming a good socialist
Lois Ponts
—–
EE-1-P-26a – 26f
Letter to Dad from Lois Ponts
(I have said all the rest of these already but I will repeat them again)
1 Jan 78
Dad,
I am self-centered, stubborn, egotistical, paranoid, bull-headed (especially with anger), haughty & I hadn’t realized it before but I frighten people like Phyllis [Chaikin] said – I must apologize to her because I am proud of her work here & know it has not been easy. I do not speak up enough & tell the good things along with what I think ought to be changed. I just accept them & think all see them as I do. Again I am a dreamer & do not face reality retrospectively, thus I am or was an idealist which is antisocial because one must see the world in 3 dimensions & not flat or in one view. One must look deeply on all sides of an issue because where there is yin there is also yang – Where there is female there is male & where there is animal there also is human & vice versa. We mirror each other in actions & in deeds & what we see in one we will like because we see it in ourselves and it is acceptable to us & what we see in others that we do not like we also have it in ourselves but we do not want to accept it as we know, too well, by trial & error, this trait in ourselves is offensive.
I am critical as is written no matter what one would like – I am critical. This I will work on the most. I will put the old lady in action on this the most. I will work equally on the self centered – egotistical – paranoid aspect of my shitty capitalistic self & try to swing it over into a well rounded sensitive Socialist. I will not be a dreamer, an idealistic fool anymore & not chase the beautiful clouds & look at the rainbows anymore. I’ll be the socialist craftsman – the worker for equalities & justices & the teacher of many. I have not found me [my] age group – not very, very refreshing. I love the spirit (your spirit) in all ages of our people. Those will be my beautiful clouds – my rainbows & my pots of gold. On toward the living entities of eternal socialism – on to the high calling. Thank you for Larry Schachts who I am extremely thrilled with in his progress along this socialist journey. Not only have you plucked this flower (myself) as all the rest out of capitalism, but you have “also” plucked hardworking dedicated Larry from the death centered capitalistic mind of America.
I have had reservations about Larry being very chauvinistic & allowing it to hamper his wish but I see a wonderful change as of late. I have been meaning to write this to you. He is working with care & with Sandy [Cobb] & I appreciate this so much. I will apologize in detail to him for my attitude. I had even felt he was deranged & didn’t like especially young women & was taking it out on them (pregnancy cases). You see I should have written it up to you & let you help me in these thoughts instead of carrying it along. Again, I did not look at it in a three dimensional way. And I did not understand why I was not told that he was checking the pregnancies by special testing (You told the steering committee last steering committee this) – he kept this from me even going to length by telling them not to tell anyone. I have said to Janet & to the mother that it would be well for Janet to be pregnant as this would protect from her father trying to get her out of Guyana. She would be an emancipated female then. I even proposed that Donna would come over here like this.
I have wanted to make up for any “shitty” ways & I also have wanted to work in the garden. I love the garden. I have wanted to get back there & work from 6:30-8:30 in the garden to make up for this wrong. I spoke to Gerry Bailey the other day of this that I didn’t understand about Larry not telling me about testing the preg. women & Gerry Bailey also made mention of Phyllis in the steering committee as she said trying to put her work on me. I said that I had, too, much work & I simply stated back what I said in the steering committee meeting that I would help her & that I had seen her in the pathway that morning & that she still thought I had said that I would teach the “squad” but she told me that she had worked something else out as I reminded her that I said that I would help only.
I have had to miss the nursing meetings @ 2pm where Larry is teaching a lot which I have not liked because I like meetings where a lot of minds get together & discuss. If I teach the junior high students every day, I also, will miss the high school meetings on Wednesday & Thursday. I am going to work something out here as I also said to a Lamaze class that I had finally gotten all the girls on iron & that I didn’t see what a little iron would matter even if they weren’t pregnant – Carol McCoy was there. That the girls didn’t know how hard I had worked to get especially the anemia taken care of. I have found since that meeting – all the girls have parasites which would allow for their anemia plus being pregnant. I [illegible word] get together with the rest of the teacher and work out our problems with the high school students – so I would like to teach junior high students Mon – Tues (skip Wed & Thurs) & Fri from 3-4 only – The junior hi can do some projects in the garden (Wed & Thurs) instead of [four illegible words].
I apologize to you or my unsocialist attitude & “lip” for it is gossip everytime we say anything about another when they are not in the presence of the inds speaking. No matter how right we think we are.
Lois Ponts
P.S. P.S. Gerry Bailey, also, said that Phyllis wouldn’t let Patsy Johnson be in the play until people pressed her & had a “shitty” attitude & I went onto tell her about a nursing meeting where Patsy was involved when Phyllis was putting the whole thing back on Patsy not wanting to really work in the nurses’ office – Joyce Parks went along with it until I swung it around to the fact that Phyllis did not orient Patsy to the nurses office or anyone like Leslie [Wagner Wilson] to Lela Murphy – that is really was not fair to Lela or the pts [abbreviation for “patients”?] in the emergency room to pluck a near trainee down and not orient the trainee to his or her duties. I should not have said this to Gerry either. I also told Gerry that I found her chart placed back in the files when I asked her if she had [four illegible words] yet & she said no – I have been getting all these [four illegible words] on parasites to bring in [illegible]. Gerry [illegible words] checking in. Lois
As for my hostilities to you: I am hostile just like being hostile to Phyllis, Larry or anyone who I don’t think understands my side or I haven’t been able to get to them to explain why I think the way I do because I don’t like to feel alienated. I have the feeling sometimes that I cannot do anything right ever or anything even said to please you but that is only transitory & I am able to cope with this feeling after all I have been alienated all my life that is why I have been a dreamer & realistic fool. So if I overcome this capitalistic refuge through [illegible word] I should well be on my successful journey towards a Marxist-Leninist. I should not do anything anti-socialistic and should not allow my thoughts to venture this way. There should be opportunity for me to explain the problems with the parties involved like I am doing now. I don’t have any sexual to you now after I have realized that [illegible word] was because I was so hostile toward you [illegible word]. I don’t have hostilities except when I cannot tell you my side of the issue. Not that you would not allow me to [illegible word] the opportunity does not come up. You know, no one can get [illegible word] Larry to tell him anything. I have talked to Phyllis a couple of times. I enjoyed Jim Bogue’s telling how he felt to you so much because I like this socialistic-bent person. I probably see a lot of myself in him. I mean his hostilities etc. Ha Ha. I really feel very good toward you just about all the time. I enjoyed the New Year’s Eve talk about the wonderful hard struggle of dedicated people for what seems an unapproachable cause to so many. I appreciate everyone’s strength & hope to match by just about 10 yrs with you in the future as a Marxist-Leninist.
Lois Ponts
—–
EE-1-P-13a – 13g
Essay by Lois Ponts
Lois Ponts
Paper on a beautiful peoples stan
Imperialistic – Capitalism, cherished & perpietrated by the corporate elite (based in the U.S.A), with its vicious racist tentacles across the world, is lashing out in its death ‘throws’ attempting to maintain strategic foot holds in countries skirting the U.S.S.R and in oil rich, copper rich, diamond, gold & platinum rich interior countries of Africa and in South Africa & Truly, South Africa boasts of its apartheid regime where the worst & most savage indignities to our people are witnessed by the cold, calculating, disadent white populous, especially in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Zaire, & Johannesburg, South Africa. In the latter city of South Africa, young women, attempting to be employed as house servants, were whipped like animals & had water sprayed upon them when the weather was very cold. The indignities toward our people are so great that one cannot describe them in detail but I will relate a few to make clear these crimes against our people. Husband & wife are not allowed to live together because of jobs being in different sectors and one must have a pass to enter or leave these sectors. Otherwise a two-to-five year jail sentences will be imposed upon anyone breaking these rules. So husband and wife see each other only at Christmas. The lovely Bantu people or black people of many tribes have been vanished to Bantustan, places where nothing will grow – very little water is obtainable & the worst living conditions one can imagine is imposed upon lovely black people. They must take buses maybe thirty miles from town to these places & the buses do not go all the way. Everything is separated from the white populous which is outnumbered, being in the minority, blacks 40 to 1 white – walking on separate sidewalks – drinking at separate drinking fountains and [illegible word], living a wretched unbelievable degrading existence. Earning 16¢ a day, because here in South Africa the statistics are worst of all as the blacks make 1/20th that of the white workers.
In contrast the white populous boast of the highest standard of living in the world. Why not! Lovely black women mother the white babies while their own black babies are dying at home. Because this has come about because of this apartheid – unrelenting – inhuman regime put in effect in South Africa by the whites there to keep this high standard of living & to supply the corporate elite with all the comforts they desire as some of these same whites watch their hands as [illegible word] and seeing the evil while others openly enjoy the plight of a beautiful race of people who know & experience what that “hell” is that was spoken to them by the ideological criminal [illegible word], Methodist & Catholic missionaries who appeared to bring good tidings but instead have wrapped them in swaddling clothes and yes, crucified them before the world to see, & direct these crimes & continue to bear no guilt.
To begin with European people (whites) have settled in Zaire, Rhodesia & South Africa, where a few hundred feet inland from the coast of Africa the terrain rises rapidly to 5,000 feet & the weather is an even balmy weather while on the coast of Africa being lower to sea level it is hotter and more humid. For instance, Ethiopia is 8,000 feet & one the highest in altitude countries in Africa. These facts, also, are of great political impact & the altitude is determinist of temperature and thus of human comfort & where European people settle. Kenya is sultry and has few Europeans – Somalia with the Horn of Africa is a very strategic area to control the Red Sea lanes, has only a few inches of rain yearly while Cameroon has 33 feet of rainfall every year. Nairobi a few hundred miles inland from Kenya rise to 51,000 feet & has many Europeans.
Ethiopia’s average per capita for black people is $100 per yr & in Somalia $180 per year – The blacks in Rhodesia is $716 a year to the white $7,800 per year. Again, I relate the statistics are worst of all in South Africa where as I wrote before the black populous makes 1/20 to that of a white.
Again Christendom you have made our people “dumb” but they are raising up their heads and are listening to Marxist-Leninist blacks such as Joshua Nawcombe [Nkomo] and Robert Mugabe of the liberation front.
The white populous in Union of South Africa is raising up & looking for a refuge now to South America amongst the lovely browns & blacks there in Bolivia, Nicaragua, & Costa Rica. Our daughters in Bolivia spoke out against you coming with your stinking, Nazi ways & stopped your entry there & Nicaraguans did, too, stop you.
And in Transkei & Bantustan in Union of South Africa – the people spoke out in the middle of the sea of hate and disgust toward our people, for you [illegible word] have underestimated our people when you [illegible word] you had banished them to a land so desolate & depressed when you put them in Bantustan land as you set up a black man who you thought would be a puppet government but he said “we will be free” & declared Transkei as a free & independent nation from Union of South Africa – Finland – USSR – parachuted in supplies of food & arms to help maintain their freedom and are making a brave and strong stand in Transkei. Union of South Africa has invaded Angola who has established her freedom at the same time China invaded Vietnam making a very hot & sticky neuclear situation & the USA – continues to pour out its madness & hate upon the 3rd world people.
Interpol you have overplayed again & will not succeed as you have enlisted your evil to try to stamp out Peoples Temple. Attn – you fear us do you – well you had better for Eureka Research Associates will not succeed against these people – You have caused us great consternation & disgust toward your hate & diabolical actions toward these people & toward our leader, a great patriot of the people – you evil bastards, Interpol, who have created such unjust & inhuman standards of living & you have tortured in Chile– in Argentina– in Brazil– Now you have enlisted mercenaries in a conspiracy against the true Vanguard of Socialism – the true Vanguard of humanism you have enlisted from Eureka Research Associates to spy our own liberties in Guyana with aeroplane photography & reconnaissance maneuvers – Beware of these Jacels [jackals] of liberty – Beware of these Jacels of truth – Beware of these Jacels of courage – You will not succeed for I, too, will devise a secret plan to stop you & you will be stopped for always – as your imperialistic capitalism – you are being stopped & you will have your tenacles chopped off – one by one by the brave – mighty, black people in Africa – beautiful & big and in South America – the blacks and brown people here. Your terror is over soon!!
—–
EE-1-P-1a – 1h
Test Answers of Lois Ponts
9 June 78 (Test) 10 questions
Lois Ponts
1) What are 4 enemies of communism?
- Revisionism
- Trotskism
- Social Democracy
- Anarchism
2) All can about proposition 13
Proposition 13 is an amendment which gives a tax cut to big business – [Calif. Attorney General Evelle] Younger voted for 13 & won the primary for governor in California People voted for it thinking would be more jobs instead now 500,000 people out of work in California
3) Explain armed struggle – Marxist Leninist – how they turn revisionist – came along and classify many things as terrorist – explain what I think is out of terrorism – when does it begin?
Marxist-Leninist says socialism & communism cannot co-exist because you will end up like Chile – must take over press and means of production and distribution of wealth. Mao says all things – change – revolution came out of the barrell of a gun – people will turn on you last minute to save own hides – for money or love. Revisionism says must work within the system & win revolution by gradual, peaceful, legal & social-democratic means – vote for change, run leaders for office – people will see the good done by socialism & want change – says socialism and capitalism can co-exist & can combine 2 systems
4) Name 7 items in Senate Bill 1437
- Cannot bring drugs across border felony offense
- Cannot assemble near government offices or such as court houses
- Cannot harbor a fugitive
- Cannot belong to the party or know a communist
- Cannot talk anyone into leaving the USA or not joining the armed services
- Cannot use 5th amendment to plead case
- Must know what the police have charged you with
- Cannot give false statement to officer arresting you & is a perjury offense
2) What African country disease Chlorea broken out
Zaire – Zambia
Katanganese crossed over into Zaire to get back tribal lands 10 yrs gone from in Zaire. Chlorea broke out in Zaire & Zambia
6) What statement: Joshua Nkoma [illegible word] Carter. Kiss my black ass – explain why
Said Cuban troops & aid had to leave African shores. US offered to give money from IMF & Joshua Nkomo refused. US offered to talk about the Liberation of Zimbabwe where Britain – U.S. W. Germany would talk about it. He said no they would have their liberation or else!! In other words, liberty of death!!
7) How does science fiction – religious occultism mysticism – explain how oppress people?
People are afraid they will not go to that heaven & will follow fascism or capitalism. Most scientist in the capitalist world are men & the outer beings will talk to them. Think men know the answers. People live in a dream existence like live today for tomorrow you might die & not make it to that golden streets & everlasting life – praising Jesus – People accept something someone else says without questioning it because they have some supernatural power & can do great things as in Jesus time so think they are right – an opiate of the people so they see this in mysticism – science fiction occultism also
8) How is the country in the movie Z like the US ?
Greece committed genocide on 2,000,000 Armenians as the US plans through the King Alfred Plan which Senate Bill 1437 will open the way to concentration camps – Kennedy brothers – both will were killed w/ head injuries – in similar ways. CIA & Trilateral Commission planned the murder of Kennedys – & plan a genocide of black – browns & white (poor) minorities.
The watergate scandal is suggestive – In the Kennedy (Jack) murder Congress did an investigation & said couldn’t expose events for 50 yrs because would shock nation who was involved – Lyndon Johnson later was exposed a part of plot & probably Jackie as she married Onassis – a very rich man. All witnesses were killed mysteriously in like manner.
9.) Why didn’t police help member of Parliament in movie Z
Because he was a socialist & the police were on the Rightist side – headed by fascist regime & promotes Christianity etc. & made communism or socialist look like demons possessed or of the devil.
10) Robert Mugabe & Joshua Nkomo leaders of what group
The Patriotic Front & trying to liberate Zimbabwe or Rhodesia
11) Why did Carter stop Salt talks
Said USSR would have to disarm and get out of Africa – get Cuba out of Africa.
12) Explain conflict between Campochia [Kampuchia] and Vietnam
Vietnam wants to have Ino [Indo] Chinese Federation of nations like USSR between Vietnam and Campochia ≠ Campochians are racist & do not want to mix with Vietnamese
13) Chilean ships all can
Come into Port of S.F. – Prostatents picketed ship – tortured Chilean prisoners awful torture aboard ship – said stench of blood was so bad – rapped [raped] prisoners to death
Explain demands made by Carter of USSR
Carter asks USSR to stop helping Katanganese in Zaire & to remove troops or aid & advisers from Africa shores & break alliance w/ Cuba
What country being to NATO and why North Atlantic Treaty Organization
US, Britain, Norway, Belgium, France
An alliance – if any country of these attacked, all will enter into & fight against oppressor
all for one and one for all idea –
What country is threatening to withdraw from NATO & why
Sweden – gave 10,000,000 to Patriotic Front & SWAPPO [SWAPO] – Thinks Africans should protect Africans – no troops from other nations be sent there, says Sweden
16) Who is threatening to go to war w/ Russia
China over border dispute and USSR’s aid to African nations & socialist fighting to be independent nations in Africa
17) What should you do if ever arrested by Police
Ask for your lawyer
Do not sign anything
Tell them nothing
Ask to see what charges are
18) Name Black Leader US who is a revisionist and why
Angela Davis – Peaceful, gradual, social democratic & legal means bring about change – Had the chance to come here but didn’t
19) Why did Carter stop Salt discussion
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
Because USSR said you stop nuclear bombs [illegible word] up – US said USSR would have to disarm & stop helping other nations such as Cuba & ? [illegible word] abuse
Following leaders of countries
Sadat-Egypt
Began-Israel
Castro-Cuba
Ian Smith-Rhodesia – Zimbabwe
Vorster-Union S. Africa
Brezhnev-USSR
20. What magazine being read being of movie Z
New York Times
21.What Z stands for?
He is alive!!
22. Who is Johnny Harris?
Prisoner executed in Alabama jail [illegible word] smuggled letter out (letters of awful treatment of prisoners – ate food mixed w/ dirt – made them crawl on floor naked – tortured them – couldn’t have visitors & are on death row. No letter gotten to them no tv no radio
23. Who is Joanne Little?
Now jailed N. Carolina prison – was jailed & just other day lost appeal for pardon for release from prison – was being raped by guard and she killed guard in N. Carolina prison – went to NY and lover had to be arrested – thought he was doing a patriotic duty (was an Uncle Tom as had another love than her) for breaking parole – was out of N. Carolina & broke parole – Had been invited to visit Temple SF & refused – we wrote letters & helped get her out on parole – was ungrateful
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EE-1-P-9-a
Note from Donna Ponts
My name is Donna Ponts and I’m 15 yrs old. I’m here in Guyana with my mom. A journalist has told us that my dad, Don Ponts, has threatened to hire mercenaries to come & get me – dead or alive. I would like to know how he can get by with this. Do I have to be kidnapped or shot before someone stops this maniac. He had better just keep off my back.
—–
EE-1-P-29b
Note from Donna Ponts to grandfather
Donna Ponts letter in town
Grandpa
It ridiculous what you read in news. I’ve read it all – you ought to know unconventional ideas are always unacceptable. Worries me how many lies being told on other groups. Sure I know Grandma Ponts died. What is pt. in talking about it. N. [Nothing?] I can do. But up there it is not being processed. I am not coming back.
[torn page at bottom, only legible words “Meth Sup in Nev who just came,” referring to visit by John Moore, a Methodist minister from Nevada, whose daughters lived in Jonestown]
—–
EE-1-P-9-b
Note from Donna Ponts
Donna Ponts –
A journalist told us he directly threatened Hariet [Harriet Tropp] and get this in later!