{"id":13179,"date":"2013-02-17T21:50:02","date_gmt":"2013-02-17T21:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alternativejonestown.com\/?page_id=13179"},"modified":"2019-04-14T09:47:48","modified_gmt":"2019-04-14T16:47:48","slug":"openlettertocongress","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=13179","title":{"rendered":"Open Letter to Congress, March 14, 1978"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Pamela
Photo Courtesy of California
Historical Society, MSP 3800<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the first nine months after the mass migration of Temple members to Jonestown, the residents of the jungle community grew frustrated with what they perceived as interference and harassment by U.S. federal government agencies. The Social Security Administration and the U.S. Post Office had intervened in the forwarding of checks to Guyana, the Internal Revenue Service was reviewing the Temple\u2019s tax-exempt status, and the Federal Communications Commission had monitored HAM radio broadcasts with an eye towards suspending the group\u2019s license. Even the Customs Service came under criticism for being over-zealous in its legitimate duties.<\/p>\n

Behind these government actions, the Temple saw the influence of former members and relatives who were acting alone or in coordination with the Concerned Relatives organization.<\/p>\n

In the spring of 1978, the leaders of Jonestown began an offensive directed at their enemies. In an open letter to Congress dated March 14, 1978, Pam Bradshaw Moton describes the \u201cvarious forms of harrassment\u201d by U.S. government agencies, and lays responsibility at the feet of  \u201cRadical Trotskyite elements.\u201d Most significantly, the letter concludes with a dire warning:<\/p>\n

\u201cI can say without hesitation that we are devoted to a decision that it is better even to die than to be constantly harrassed from one continent to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n

The major impact of the letter was not upon the U.S. Congress, though. The frustration within the Jonestown community was felt by its opponents as well, and the Concerned Relatives seized upon the Moton letter as evidence that their worst fears were about to come true. Within a month, the group had prepared a lengthy Accusation of Human Rights Violations prepared by the Concerned Relatives<\/a>, and the Moton letter was the first<\/a> of 10 supporting documents.<\/p>\n

Open Letter to Congress, March 14, 1978<\/strong>, RYMUR 89-4286-MM-1-27
\nPDF<\/a><\/span>
\nText<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Whether Pam Moton had any role in the composition of the letter is unknown. However, an undated letter to “Dad” expresses the same willingness to die for the cause.<\/p>\n

Pam Bradshaw Moton letter to Dad<\/strong>, RYMUR 89-4286-C-5-a-3 \u2013 C-5-a-4
\nPDF<\/a><\/span>
\nText<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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