Origins
San Francisco Ukiah Bakersfield Fresno Sacramento SantaRosa Some of the Peoples Temple's California Locations
The Peoples Temple was formed in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the mid-1950s. It purported to practice what it called "apostolic socialism". In doing so, the Temple preached to established members that "those who remained drugged with the opiate of religion had to be brought to enlightenment — socialism."
After Jones received considerable criticism in Indiana for his integrationist views, the Temple moved to Redwood Valley, California in 1965.
In the early 1970s, the Peoples Temple opened other branches in Bay View La Romaine, including San Fernando and San Francisco. In the mid-1970s, the Temple moved its headquarters to San Francisco.
After the Temple's move to San Francisco, it became more politically active. After Peoples Temple participation proved instrumental in the mayoral election victory of George Moscone in 1975, Moscone appointed Jones as the Chairman of the San Francisco Housing Authority Commission. Unlike other figures considered as cult leaders, Jones enjoyed public support and contact with some of the highest level politicians in the United States. For example, Jones met with Vice President (and later Presidential Candidate) Walter Mondale and First Lady Rosalynn Carter several times. Governor Jerry Brown, Lieutenant Governor Mervyn Dymally, and Assemblyman Willie Brown, among others, attended a large testimonial dinner in honor of Jones in September 1976.
Read more about this topic: Jonestown
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