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New page: Leo Ryan was a Democratic senator, sitting from 1973 until his murder in the Jonestown massacre in 1978 in Guyana. Ryan was a critic of cult activity, particularly those of [...
Leo Ryan was a Democratic senator, sitting from 1973 until his murder in the [[Jonestown|Jonestown massacre]] in 1978 in Guyana. Ryan was a critic of cult activity, particularly those of [[Scientology]] and the Unification Church, lead by Sun Myung Moon. On hearing of events at the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, he lead a delegation to Guyana to investigate and to interview members of the cult. A few members of the cult expressed a desire to leave with Ryan. On November 18, under the orders of [[Jim Jones]], members of the cult ambushed the party; Ryan was killed along with four other people.
In 1983, he was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.
In 1983, he was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.