{"id":35899,"date":"2013-07-25T04:51:53","date_gmt":"2013-07-25T04:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alternativejonestown.com\/?page_id=35899"},"modified":"2025-09-03T16:52:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T23:52:35","slug":"opposition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/?page_id=35899","title":{"rendered":"The Opposition, The Returned, Crisis & White Nights"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the Temple moved to California, settling in Redwood Valley, services were small at first but gradually grew as a few local people joined.\u00a0 As word spread, people began coming from wider areas into Sunday services. What had been small informal gatherings gradually developed into more formal \u201cshows.\u201d\u00a0 Once the Temple started holding services in San Francisco \u2013 and then in Los Angeles \u2013 a different course was begun, eventually leading to the permanency of buying buildings there. The summer trips that began as a vacation time for the children, became \u201chealing services\u201d that crossed the nation with Temple appearances in Houston, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, Vancouver and more. By the time the exodus to Guyana began, the Temple had a strenuous two-week schedule of services on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with main services on weekends rotating between San Francisco and Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Temple \u201cmembership\u201d grew to a reported high of more than 20,000, including all the many thousands who attended only a few services. Perhaps a more accurate figure is 5000, which is the number of individual membership card photos at the California Historical Society. Some of the more committed members relocated to Redwood Valley, Los Angeles, San Francisco and then, of course, Guyana. <\/span><\/p>\n

While many of the members were still part of the Temple in November 1978, many others had left, and for many reasons. Most former members quietly left the group \u2013 many of them just stopped attending services \u2013 but others were openly and vocally critical of the Temple. A number of the critics eventually gathered together under the leadership of Jeannie and Al Mills (known as Deanna and Elmer Mertle during their years in the Temple) and formed a group called <\/span>Concerned Relatives<\/span>, based in Berkeley, California. <\/span><\/p>\n

The group challenged Peoples Temple \u2013 and especially Jim Jones \u2013\u00a0on many fronts. They organized press conferences; they filed lawsuits on child custody and property disputes; and they lobbied Congress, eventually finding a champion in the person of Leo Ryan. By the summer of 1977, though, as <\/span>Concerned Relatives<\/span> was beginning to come together, the Temple\u2019s most prominent critics told their stories to two reporters, Marshall Kilduff and Phil Tracy. The resulting article in <\/span>New West<\/span><\/a><\/span> precipitated the sudden and massive departure of Jim Jones and Temple members to Guyana. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

With the critical press of the <\/span>New West<\/span> article and more, the Temple built a list of known and potential hostile people known as: People Critical of Guyana<\/strong>. The Temple published copies of some of the materials being circulated by Concerned Relatives<\/strong> as well as statements about other attacks on the Temple: Victims of Conspiracy<\/strong> and Interpol Special Agent<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>1. People Critical of Guyana<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n2. Concerned Relatives Brochure, \u201cThis Nightmare is Taking Place Right Now\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n3. Victims of Conspiracy Brochure<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n4. Interpol Special Agent Attacks Jim Jones & Peoples Temple<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With a wide variety of complaints against the Temple, ranging from welfare fraud, social security fraud, exporting of prohibited items, to suspicion of homicide, the Temple became concerned and paranoid of a \u201cconspiracy\u201d to destroy Peoples Temple. Charles Garry and Mark Lane were hired to help investigate and protect the Temple. In addition to an ongoing legal battle, there were reports of activities to \u201cbreak into\u201d Jonestown. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>Some Who Were in Guyana but Returned to US<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Who left the Temple and returned to the States<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Les Mathison & Greg Frost<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nThey were among the first pioneers in Jonesown, arriving in Guyana in April 1974, and while their departure dates are unknown, they appear to be in late 1977. They seem to have returned to the States on their own after leaving Jonestown, although Jim Jones once referred to them as if they had died in the surrounding jungle.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chris & Mae Lewis<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nChris Lewis entered Guyana in June 1974 with \u201cPop\u201d Jackson and his wife. Chris\u2019 wife Mae went to Guyana in late 1974. Chris was believed to have returned in 1975 to San Francisco, where he was murdered in December 1977. When Mae left Guyana is unknown, although it is likely she went with Chris.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ron and Yulanda Crawford<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nThe Crawfords returned to California in the Spring of 1977, after living in Jonestown for several months. Yulanda\u2019s affidavit about conditions in Jonestown was included in materials published by Concerned Relatives and filed in Tim Stoen\u2019s court cases against the Temple.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Norman Ijames<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nA pilot working in the Caribbean\/South America with wife Judy Ijames and child in Jonestown, Norman was in and out of Jonestown. Though not officially \u201cout\u201d of the Temple, not officially in either.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tim Stoen<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nSpent several months in Jonestown to support John Victor being there. After leaving the Temple, Tim Stoen reunited with his wife for purposes of reclaiming John Victor, and became active in Concerned Relatives.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Debbie Layton Blakey<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nLeft in May 1978, after being there for five or six months. Her affidavit about conditions in Jonestown \u2013 and the publicity surrounding her departure \u2013 spurred Rep. Leo Ryan\u2019s interest in going to Guyana.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Teri Buford<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nLeft in October 1978<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Walter Jones<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nWalter went down to Guyana in the Spring of 1976 to set up the electrical system of poles and wiring to power Jonestown. He was encouraged to stay but insisted on returning. He left the Temple with Grace Stoen in July 1976.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leon Broussard<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nStayed only several months, between June and November 1977. Walked to Port Kaituma, spoke to a policeman talking about Jonestown, saying he wanted to leave and ended up in Mathews Ridge. Richard McCoy, US Consul, was in the area, and with Johnny Brown, spoke to Leon asking if he wanted to return to the US. Leon said he did, was given his passport and return ticket by Brown the next day.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Who returned to the States and were still in the Temple<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Don Beck<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nSpent two summers in Guyana \u2013 1974 and 1976 \u2013 when Jonestown was first being built. He returned to the States and was in Redwood Valley in November 1978.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Archie Ijames<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nHad been in Guyana in Spring of 1974 to help obtain and set up the Land Lease. When he returned to California in June 1974, he stayed busy with construction work in Redwood Valley and never returned to Guyana.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leona Collier<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nWent down in Fall 1977 and returned after several weeks to San Francisco.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frances Johnson<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nWent down August 1978 and returned to the San Francisco in October 1978. Edith Roller’s account of her brief stay in Jonestown is here<\/a>.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hue Fortson<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\nWent to Guyana in Spring 1978 and returned to the States in October 1978 to handle some Temple business. He was in San Francisco in November 1978.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


\n5. White Night and Reflection from Roller Journal \u2013 February 16-17<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Edith Roller reports in her journal some of the Days of Crisis and Alerts of activity against Peoples Temple. Another defense practiced were the White Nights, when people faced and practiced so-called revolutionary suicide, when the community would make a statement by dying, rather than return to life in the states. Another alternative discussed at such times was immigration to a socialist country such as Russia or Cuba. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlerts\u201d and Crisis Events in Jonestown reported in Roller Journals<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are some references in Edith Roller\u2019s 1978 Guyana Journals to crisis events in Jonestown. You may wish to read her description of them as part of life in Jonestown.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>Entries in Edith Roller\u2019s Journals to Crisis Events<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Feb<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Mar<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Apr<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

May<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

June<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Aug<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Thu 2:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

US Embassy Rep & attorney visit to JT<\/span><\/td>\n

Wed 1:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Intruder into JT<\/span><\/td>\n

Sat 1:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Shots in Bush<\/span><\/td>\n

Sat 13: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

D. Layton Defection discusson<\/span><\/td>\n

Fri 2:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Group to Caracas, <\/span><\/p>\n

D. Layton defection<\/span><\/td>\n

Mon 21<\/span><\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

6am call to Pavilion<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Thu 16:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Day of Crisis<\/span><\/p>\n

White Night<\/span><\/td>\n

Mon 20:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alert Called<\/span><\/td>\n

Wed 12:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Discuss White Nights<\/span><\/td>\n

Thu 28:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alert called<\/span><\/td>\n

Mon 26:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Enquirer Plane flyover<\/span><\/td>\n

Tue 22:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

6 to 11pm Alert call to Pavilion<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Fri 17:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

White Night reflection: Edith Roller\u2019s candid comments<\/span><\/td>\n

Wed 29:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Shots in <\/span><\/p>\n

bush<\/span><\/td>\n

Thu 13:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Discuss White Nights<\/span><\/td>\n

<\/td>\nFri 30:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Enquirer Plane discuss<\/span><\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nFri 14:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Threat<\/span><\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\nMon 17: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

SF Press Conf, Garry<\/span><\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

After the Temple moved to California, settling in Redwood Valley, services were small at first but gradually grew as a few local people joined.\u00a0 As word spread, people began coming from wider areas into Sunday services. What had been small informal gatherings gradually developed into more formal \u201cshows.\u201d\u00a0 Once the Temple started holding services in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":47,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-35899","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35899"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35899\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131747,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/35899\/revisions\/131747"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/47"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jonestown.sdsu.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}