Over 900 people, most of them African American, died in a mass murder-suicide at the People’s Temple Agricultural Project (commonly known as Jonestown) in Guyana, South America. The event was orchestrated by Jim Jones, the leader of the People’s Temple cult.

Among the victims were children, elderly people, and many families who had followed Jones from California seeking a utopian society. That day, they were coerced or forced to drink a cyanide-laced beverage. The phrase “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid” originated from this event, though it was actually a different flavored drink.

The tragedy followed the murder of U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan, who had traveled to Jonestown to investigate abuse allegations. Ryan and four others were shot and killed as they attempted to leave the area.