interview with jerry m. lewis
Q: What were your experiences on May 4?
A: I SAW STUDENTS SHOT AND KILLED
Q: What did you do as a faculty marshal on that day?
A: AFTER THE SHOOTINGS I TRIED TO COMFORT STUDENTS.
Q: What was the mood on campus and during the time period?
A: UPSET ABOUT CAMBODIA AND ANGRY WITH THE GUARDS'S BEING ON CAMPUS
Q: Who do you think set fire to the ROTC Building?
A: KENT STATE STUDENTS
Q: Do you think that the alleged sniper existed?
A: NO
Q: What was the mood of the students and faculty on campus after the shootings?
A: WE WERE ORDERED OFF CAMPUS AND SCHOOL DID NOT RESUME FOR SIX WEEKS.
Q: What was the effect on the hippie movement/protests?
A: MAY 4TH (KENT STATE SHOOTINGS) BECAME PART OF THE CULTURE OF THE ANTIWAR MOVEMENT. "OHIO" BY CSNY BECAME A HYMN OF MOVEMENT. THE MARY VECCHIO (JOHN FILO'S PHOTO) PICTURE WAS WIDELY USED TO PUBLICIZE RALLIES. SO YES, MAY 4 BECAME PART OF POPULAR CULTURE
Q: Do you think there was a plot by higher authorities in the government for this to happen?
A: IT WAS WIDELY ARGUED THAT PRESIDENT NIXON ORDERED SHOOTINGS ON CAMPUSES. I LOOKED IN TO IT IN SOME DETAIL AND COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS ARGUMENT. MY CONCLUSION IS NO YOUR QUESTION.
Q: Were the students protesting peacefully, and were the guardsmen really in danger?
A: THE GUARDSMEN BELIEVED THEY WERE IN DANGER AND SO TESTIFIED IN COURT.
Q: Did the guardsmen have the right to shoot the students, or did the students have the right to protest?
A: SEE THE SCRANTON REPORT//YES THEY HAD A RIGHT TO PROTEST,
Q: Who do you think is to blame for the tragic outcome, the students or the guardsmen?
A: WHO GOT KILLED AND WOUNDED?
Q: Why was the National Guard brought to Kent State in the first place? Several colleges and universities also had student protests, not just Kent State.
A: THE MAYOR OF KENT REQUESTED THE GUARD.
Q: Did you know any of the students who were killed or maimed?
A: NO, BUT I MET MANY OF THE WOUNDED AFTER THE SHOOTINGS 14.
Q: Do you believe any of the conspiracy theories?
A: NO
Q: Do you agree with the FBI’s investigation findings?
A: YES, PARTICULARLY THE SCRANTON REPORT
A: I SAW STUDENTS SHOT AND KILLED
Q: What did you do as a faculty marshal on that day?
A: AFTER THE SHOOTINGS I TRIED TO COMFORT STUDENTS.
Q: What was the mood on campus and during the time period?
A: UPSET ABOUT CAMBODIA AND ANGRY WITH THE GUARDS'S BEING ON CAMPUS
Q: Who do you think set fire to the ROTC Building?
A: KENT STATE STUDENTS
Q: Do you think that the alleged sniper existed?
A: NO
Q: What was the mood of the students and faculty on campus after the shootings?
A: WE WERE ORDERED OFF CAMPUS AND SCHOOL DID NOT RESUME FOR SIX WEEKS.
Q: What was the effect on the hippie movement/protests?
A: MAY 4TH (KENT STATE SHOOTINGS) BECAME PART OF THE CULTURE OF THE ANTIWAR MOVEMENT. "OHIO" BY CSNY BECAME A HYMN OF MOVEMENT. THE MARY VECCHIO (JOHN FILO'S PHOTO) PICTURE WAS WIDELY USED TO PUBLICIZE RALLIES. SO YES, MAY 4 BECAME PART OF POPULAR CULTURE
Q: Do you think there was a plot by higher authorities in the government for this to happen?
A: IT WAS WIDELY ARGUED THAT PRESIDENT NIXON ORDERED SHOOTINGS ON CAMPUSES. I LOOKED IN TO IT IN SOME DETAIL AND COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS ARGUMENT. MY CONCLUSION IS NO YOUR QUESTION.
Q: Were the students protesting peacefully, and were the guardsmen really in danger?
A: THE GUARDSMEN BELIEVED THEY WERE IN DANGER AND SO TESTIFIED IN COURT.
Q: Did the guardsmen have the right to shoot the students, or did the students have the right to protest?
A: SEE THE SCRANTON REPORT//YES THEY HAD A RIGHT TO PROTEST,
Q: Who do you think is to blame for the tragic outcome, the students or the guardsmen?
A: WHO GOT KILLED AND WOUNDED?
Q: Why was the National Guard brought to Kent State in the first place? Several colleges and universities also had student protests, not just Kent State.
A: THE MAYOR OF KENT REQUESTED THE GUARD.
Q: Did you know any of the students who were killed or maimed?
A: NO, BUT I MET MANY OF THE WOUNDED AFTER THE SHOOTINGS 14.
Q: Do you believe any of the conspiracy theories?
A: NO
Q: Do you agree with the FBI’s investigation findings?
A: YES, PARTICULARLY THE SCRANTON REPORT