The Kent State Shootings occurred at Kent State University in Ohio. They were the culmination of four days of strife between student protestors and authorities, ultimately the National Guard. On May 1, there was a peaceful protest by a few grads and 500 spectators. They buried the Constitution to show their disagreement with Nixon’s decision to invade Cambodia; they believed that Nixon’s actions were contradictions to the Constitution. Later that night, there was chaos downtown. Fires were started and stores were wrecked and things were stolen. However, there is no evidence of any kind that points to the events being planned. The FBI admits to not knowing how the chaos started. The next night, the Army ROTC building on the campus was burned down (by who, it is not clear) and Kent State Policemen didn’t interfere as some individuals tried to stop the firemen from stopping the fire. The National Guard arrived at 9:30 and confronted the students, some of which threw rocks. However, no major injuries occurred and the National Guard had the students go back to their dormitories or apartments. On May 3, the students had another peaceful protest. After an hour, the Ohio Riot Act was read. Because the students would not leave the Commons, the place of the protest, tear gas was fired into the crowd. Later, there was a peaceful sit-in where the students sang anti-war songs and used a bullhorn to list their demands for peace. When the National Guard told them that they would have an earlier curfew, 11:00 pm instead of 1:00 am, they became violent. The crowd threw rocks, and the National Guard responded with tear gas and began stabbing students with bayonets.
All of these events led up to the tragic ending on May 4. On that day, the National Guard banned protests, but most of the students never knew this. They met for a peaceful protest on the Commons. The National Guard started attacking violently with tear gas and forced students off the Commons. At one point, a squad fired two shots in the air, but no other soldiers fired. Slowly, the crowd went back up toward the Pagoda (a shelter). The Guard followed, and began to fire shots. 13 seconds of shooting by the National Guard and one student was left paralyzed for their whole life, nine were injured, and four were killed. Two of the deaths were of students not even involved in the protest. Minor violence by the students resulted in four deaths, which were caused by the National Guard, a group meant to protect people. Now, some people are working together to find “historical truths so we can say those four students did not die in vain,” (Canfora).
All of these events led up to the tragic ending on May 4. On that day, the National Guard banned protests, but most of the students never knew this. They met for a peaceful protest on the Commons. The National Guard started attacking violently with tear gas and forced students off the Commons. At one point, a squad fired two shots in the air, but no other soldiers fired. Slowly, the crowd went back up toward the Pagoda (a shelter). The Guard followed, and began to fire shots. 13 seconds of shooting by the National Guard and one student was left paralyzed for their whole life, nine were injured, and four were killed. Two of the deaths were of students not even involved in the protest. Minor violence by the students resulted in four deaths, which were caused by the National Guard, a group meant to protect people. Now, some people are working together to find “historical truths so we can say those four students did not die in vain,” (Canfora).
Upper right: The map of where events happened on May 4th (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings)