On the 50th anniversary, witnesses remember the May 4 shootings at Kent State University
KENT, Ohio — A memorial more than two years in the making was forced to drastically change due to the coronavirus pandemic. On the 50th anniversary of the May 4 shooting on Kent State’s campus organizers are determined to honor the memory and legacy of the victims.
Organizers told News 5 that there is no word yet on if next year’s commemoration will be done on campus or virtually, but they will start working on organizing events for May 4, 2021 in the very near future.
On May 4, 1970, life forever changed for Kent State student Chic Canfora. It was on that day that Canfora, and many others including her brother Alan, were protesting American Military Action in Cambodia.
“We had to process our grief, our fear, our anger, our confusion, not just in the hours afterwards, but in the days, the months, and the years afterwards.
By 12:30 in the afternoon, a group of Ohio National Guardsmen fired their weapons at the protestors, killing four students and wounding nine others, including Canfora’s brothers.
“We will never forget the sights and the sounds of the gun fire, the adrenaline rush as we dove for cover hoping not to be hit and the horror we discovered when we came out from the cars and trees that shielded us.
Then 33-year-old Professor Jerry Lewis, one of a handful of faculty marshals trying to keep the peace, applied first aid.
“I saw a student laying on the ground some distance away so I went over, it was a blind student who had been tear gassed, so I applied first aid,” he said.
But for the first time, on the 50th anniversary the campus will be closed just like it was 50 years ago.
"The whole experience seems surreal knowing that on the 50th anniversary the campus will be closed like it was 50 years ago," Canfora said.
Refs, I know this may turn out to be a political topic. If, as it evolves you feel the need to move it, I certainly understand how and why this may happen.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Although I was only 9 at the time, the Kent State Massacre provided a backdrop for my views on most everything involving government and the rights of individuals.
The real tragedy is that no one was arrested, no one was really investigated and the whole incident was swept under the rug.
But those who opposed the war won, Neil Young wrote Ohio, and the Vietnam War became exposed for what it really was. A political power struggle with the youth of America serving as sacrificial pawns.
Welcome back, Joe, we missed you!…. That did not age well.
I remember learning about this in school ... it’s sad when landmark events begin to be left in the dust of the previous century. Thanks for the reminder
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
I was junior at Kent State. I was arrested and thrown in jail in Ravenna the night before. I was brought back to Kent the next day on a jail bus guarded by National Guardsmen.
The bus was parked outside Franklin Hall when I heard the shots. There were reports of sniper fire. Everyone was ducking and searching for cover. I was released and charged for breaking curfew and disorderly conduct.
When I got back to my shared apartment and found out what happened; I was in a state of shock. I remember going into the shower and letting the water pour over me as I balled like a baby.
This is the first time since then that I have said much about that day. It changed my life. I never looked at the world again in the same way as before that day.
Nothing happened. Nobody was held accountable.
Like today it was a time of division.
Today I am not optimistic about how this virus will play out. Mostly because of misinformation from the top. Politics and financial pressure will cause misinformation and that will re-seed this virus.
This is not just here in the US but globally. Most governments will lie and that will result in a price to pay by all.
Honestly it is something I do not like to think about.
A memory I have repressed and hidden. Whenever I hear the song I turn it off. Normally when I see it brought up in some way; I retreat and move to something else.
I was 23 years old. My father was a WWII vet who I held in great regard and respect. It was a very confusing time. I had friends who were killed in Vietnam. I was very torn. On one hand I felt obligated. On the other I knew that war was wrong. It made no sense to me. If I would have been alive when Pearl Harbor was attacked. I would have enlisted the next day. But Vietnam was senseless IMO. I got drafted. But was rejected for a medical reason. I was highly allergic to bee stings. I love bees to this day.
Today I see many similarities. But trump is the difference. I listened George Bush Jr. remarks today and I wish he was in office. We need that kind of leadership. This is not a time to continue political in fighting arguments. It is a time to unite the country against a common enemy.
trump is incapable of true leadership. He only sees the world as those with him or against him. Those who oppose him are his enemy. He doesn't know what the word American means.
I was reading about the topic last night. Ever since I saw it in a documentary when I was about 12 -late 1970s - I’ve had a mild interest in the KSU shootings.
Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders was part of the protesters, interestingly enough.
Major screw-up. I don’t blame Nixon for all of it, but I blame him for some.
Crazy story bone! Didn’t realize you were there at the time
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
The governor, the head of the National Guard, and the local police department were the ones responsible for their response. How it was handled by them.
There is no way that the National Guard should have had live ammo instead of non lethal ammo.
To open fire on a group of unarmed college students was atrocious. The head of the National Guard who was in charge should been held accountable.
I was 13 when this went down and not very political. I remember hearing about it and watching footage on TV. It was very surreal for people in my age group.
The story is tragic and should have never happened. The guilty never faced legal consequences. Yet somehow, like many spontaneous tragic events, the Kent State shooting sparked outrage that led to change. Change that was a positive.
Neil Young's song that he did w/CSNY was outstanding. Unlike bone, I listen to that song a lot. It had the right degree of indignation, outrage, and screamed for changes to be made. It had so much attitude.
The still photographs were haunting. The interviews w/students were captivating. More and more people began to question the war and the politics of America.
The senseless shooting actually led to a lot of good in terms of change in our country. People began to really start to jump on board w/the calls for change in our policies.
Sometimes, our heroes and major leaders of change, are simply unfortunate folks who were victims of circumstance.
Btw...........for you young folks who have not heard the song OHIO, have a listen and take a look at the pics in this video and try and tell me that isn't some powerful s...!
I guess after 50 years it is time to open up a little.
In light of current events I feel somehow it is relevant and important.
I came very close to being shot the night before. A crowd of students were in the front of the campus talking to guardsmen who were the same age. Asking them to put their guns down. At about 10 PM they bull horned that a curfew was going into effect. I was there. I started to cross the campus heading toward my apartment. It was dark. I heard someone shout stop. I decided to run. I came to a low fence that I was going to hurtle. When I hit the top of the fence about 20 rifles were pointed at me.
I was disoriented from the chaos and darkness. The fence was the fence surrounding the President of the University's house. They had planted about twenty guardsmen around the property. When I heard and saw the rifles I threw my hands up and stood stiff still. A officer came up to me and put me a jeep with him next to me. He cocked his pistol and said he would shot me in the head if made any type of move. I remember telling him he was effing crazy. I was arrested and was loaded onto a bus. Then put in a cell in Ravenna along with about 100 others.
The next day was May fourth. And that is when we were driven back to Kent. When the shots rang out we were driven back to the jail in Ravenna and then released. That was when I got a ride back to my place.
When they closed the school I took of for Provincetown Town in Cape Cod. I spent the summer there and never opened my mouth to a soul about it. Would not talk about it to family or friends. I went back and graduated the next year.
I don't believe I have spoken about it except to my own family since then.
When I saw the title of the thread I had forgotten about it being 50 years. Then decided I would write this.
I was thinking about writing what took place on Friday and Saturday night. Came back in the house and there is a PM asking about this and permission to use this story in a classroom and of course remaining anonymous.
So: I like many were downtown on the weekends. Of course it's college. I was a bartender besides. The streets were packed with people. Students plus people from anywhere around including Cleveland. Kent had a big music scene. Chrissie Hynde and her brother were part of it. The Glass Harp and 15-60-75 Numbers Band. Friday night things were getting louder and sketchy. Hard to describe. It felt edgy. Like the atmosphere before a fight breaks out. Anti-war chants, anger. More visible police. I think it was Saturday night when violence started happening. After the action on the streets on Friday I was certain Saturday would repeat with that tension. I was on the sidewalk of the main drag when someone threw a trash can through a window storefront. My thoughts were "it is time to get away from right here." Sirens etc. The place was already on high alert. They called in the National Guard. If I remember correctly that division of the Guard were just involved in some race riots in Cleveland or some other local area. There was heavy press coverage. Felt like a fuse was lit.
So, Sunday there was the Guard on the Campus front lawn.
After it happened on Monday May 4th Kent was like a war zone. Military vehicles all over the place with lots of weapons.
Like being inside a movie. A very unreal feeling. "What is happening?"
Today is like that feeling. This is serious times right now. We are in a historical event. Just like Kent State was.
I wonder how we will react? I wish I was optimistic.
I'm not a fan of her either. I was simply giving credit where credit was due. Yes, I grew up in a time where I know many who served in Vietnam. As the war wore on I worried that it would continue until I reached draft age and had no idea what I would do if that came to pass.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
Nothing was accomplished. We didn't fight to win. It was their country. They were no threat to us.
Lot of people died for nothing. IMO.
Most of the soldiers were from my generation. I knew plenty who served. I spoke to many who were in it thick as they returned. I never heard one say they felt good about being there.
The people stopped the war. It took time but eventually the will was gone. There was war on the streets of the US to stop.
I agree in part that it was a bad time in history because so many things were wrong. On the other hand, I think it was a great time in history because so many folks spoke up and actually invoked change into our society.
Civil rights for minorities and women improved during that era. Protestors helped end the war. Crooked politicians were exposed and outed. We made monumental advances in protecting the environment. That can not be overstated enough.
Bro, I think things had been getting worse and worse for a long time in the name of greed and power. Thus, it was a bad time. However, it got so bad that we spoke up and attacked the problems. That was a very good thing.
I'm damn glad I lived during that era. It sure beats the whiny, self-indulgent, shallow crap that is going on today.
I read a lot now because I have the time. In particular I read historical fiction. Not for the historical events but more for how people lived in different times. It makes me wonder how I would have done under those conditions.
You are right a lot of good things came from my generation. Including all that you mentioned. The music and art reflected and supported the times. There was a great sense of unity amoung all the young people of that time. The war and race relations provided a common cause.
Kent State took a lot out of me. It was like big power can kill you and nothing will be done about it. After that I dropped out. Literally. For the next 10 years I wondered all over the globe. It was not until 1980 when I got married that I started living a "normal type life" of work, wife, children, house etc.
I would not trade a thing. Life kind of slaps you around. Points you in directions and then changes the game.
You end up becoming the sum total of your experiences.
Today I look around and feel like we are being spoiled. Until this virus hit.
This is when the game changes. I am not optimistic about how this will turn out.
Governments and leaders will lie. Political and financial pressures will force action that is not well planned.
We are seeing that happen right before our eyes globally.
With you enjoying historical fiction, if you haven't read it, I suggest you check out the Phillip Roth novel "The Plot Against America". HBO also turned into a mini series.
The basis of the story is that Charles Lindbergh was nominated for and won the presidency against FDR in 1940. I found it riveting.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
I have read a series of books by author Simon Scarrow.
Eagles of the Empire a series of Roman military fiction set in the territories of the Roman Empire, covering the second invasion of Britain and the subsequent prolonged campaign undertaken by the rump of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.
At this point there are 18 books with another soon coming.
It covers two soldiers(who are friends) careers inside the Roman army. It is great reading. The stories are page burners. But it really gives you a feeling of life during that time.
I'm sure they are good reading but I have a little trouble relating to historical fiction from that time period. It just doesn't peak my interest the way that something which relates to fictional history about America and times which may have turned our nation upside down. The Revolutionary War, the Civil War and both WW's especially.
Just different strokes for different folks.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
You start throwing rocks and hitting people holding military weapons, and they feel threatened, there is probably going to be a bad ending.
You have to remember, that is when people were spitting on people in uniform in the airport and not hugging and thanking them for their service. I will never forget that.
I am sorry those kids got killed, I really am, but it is what it is, sometimes the reaction is severe even if they weren't the actual people threatening our troops.
Maybe we should hear from the people who caused those kids death. Let's see what those punks have to say.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I have always felt bad for the soldiers that served at that time. Many were my friends and still are.
They were in a bad situation. Young people caught in something way over their heads. No real out path one way or the other. No soldier deserves to be spit upon for their service. But that is not what happened to all soldiers. Actions like that does not represent the way all were treated.
However, there is no justification for what happened at Kent. None.
There is no way they should have had lethal ammo. No way they should have been ordered to fire into a crowd of unarmed students. If someone threw a rock from the distance they were apart no real harm would have occured. They were under no threat.
The officers in charge had many options available to disperse the crowd. Obviously they could have fired into the air. People would have ran away. Whoever gave that command to fire is gulity of murder.
No troops were threatened. How could they be threatened from a small crowd of college students on their campus? Against soldiers with guns?
I said it was bad and sad, and maybe wasn't justified, I wasn't there, so maybe it was....I was walking through a few airports at the time, so I do know about the situation.
It wasn't just a local deal. It was nation wide.
I am sure the kids killed were probably just innocent kids. I want to know about the people who sacrificed them. Do you? That's who I want to find.
I might beat those punks with my shoe.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
Just remember that we all have different thoughts on things. No sense letting him get under your skin.
I think vigorously arguing about things like sports is fun. I believe that because at the end of the day, sports are just a game or entertainment. It's no big deal if you think Baker is great and I think he is overrated. We both have opinions and the result is not important.
However, this discussion is pretty important. It's about ideologies and real-life altering experiences. I think it's best to avoid confrontations in such important conversations.
FWIW: I side w/you. So, I'm just trying to offer some friendly advice.
Frankly 50 years have past and I don't want to dig this grave up.
Me either.
We are about 120 miles apart. Maybe we can meet in Calhoun or Adairsville, Ga. Both have a Cracker Barrell. Maybe we can meet one day and talk about our experiences over a cup of coffee and a plate of sausage gravy biscuits. Maybe a few over easy eggs to sop up.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn.
I am not saying this to be mean. I'm just concerned. You probably should not be eating sausage gravy biscuits if your ankles are swollen. It might be time to go w/a healthier diet, bro.
Politics and religion are topics that can hit deep.
I normally stay away from them because they are belief based and they are each to his own subjects.
I was very reluctant to say a thing about this.
Sports is just fun. It never bothers me what others think. It is just a sideshow in life.
Today with this virus it is sad that it spills into politics. That we can't even unite over a common enemy that is extremely dangerous to every human on this earth.
Nothing was accomplished. We didn't fight to win. It was their country. They were no threat to us.
Lot of people died for nothing. IMO.
Most of the soldiers were from my generation. I knew plenty who served. I spoke to many who were in it thick as they returned. I never heard one say they felt good about being there.
The people stopped the war. It took time but eventually the will was gone. There was war on the streets of the US to stop.
It was a bad time in history.
I was 10 when this happened, lived in the area at that time. I understand your feelings and completely agree about the Viet Nam war being a waste of time, money and most importantly people.
The people may have swayed the politicians in finding an end, but I firmly believed they were profiting from it in one way or another. My distrust of the government was formed during that time. That is what my 10 year old self saw, and why I became a conservative. Less government in our lives the better. Peace be with you.
The Constitution shall never be construe to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. – Samuel Adams
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