Kent State University: A Day Of Student Deaths

On May 4, 1970, four students were killed and nine others were wounded when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a mass student protest at Kent State University. The students were demonstrating against the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia, as well as protesting the National Guard's presence on campus and the military draft. The incident, now known as the Kent State Massacre, triggered a nationwide student strike, with more than 4 million students participating and hundreds of universities forced to close.

The four students killed were Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder

The four students killed by the Ohio National Guard during the Kent State shootings were Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder. Krause and Miller were among the 300 students who had gathered to protest the expansion of the Cambodian campaign, while Scheuer and Schroeder were among the hundreds of students observing the proceedings during a break between classes. Krause, Miller, and Scheuer died on the scene, while Schroeder was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly afterward.

The four students killed were all under the age of 21. Krause was 19, Miller was 20, Scheuer was 20, and Schroeder was 19. Krause was a freshman in the Honors College, Miller was a sophomore studying psychology, Scheuer was a junior studying speech and hearing therapy, and Schroeder was a sophomore also studying psychology. Krause and Miller were from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Long Island, New York, respectively, while Scheuer and Schroeder were both from Ohio. Scheuer was from Youngstown, and Schroeder was from Lorain.

The Kent State shootings, also known as the Kent State massacre or the May 4 massacre, marked a pivotal moment in the anti-Vietnam War movement in the United States. The incident triggered a nationwide student strike, forcing hundreds of colleges and universities to close. The events also turned the tide of public opinion against the war and are thought to have contributed to the downfall of the Nixon administration.

The protest was against the Vietnam War and the presence of the National Guard on campus

On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed and nine were injured when the Ohio National Guard opened fire during a mass student protest against the Vietnam War and the presence of the National Guard on campus.

The protest was sparked by President Nixon's announcement on April 30, 1970, that US and South Vietnamese troops were invading Cambodia, which had been providing a safe haven for the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. The expansion of the war into Cambodia angered those who believed it only exacerbated the conflict and violated a neutral nation's sovereignty.

The protest on May 4 was also against the presence of the National Guard on campus. The National Guard had been called in by Kent's mayor, Leroy Satrom, on May 2, after a night of rioting in the city. The previous evening, students and others had gathered at downtown bars and, fuelled by alcohol and rage at the invasion of Cambodia, had set fire to garbage cans in the middle of the street and attacked the police who responded. The bulk of the students were driven back to campus by police in riot gear.

On May 2, students helped clean up the damage downtown, but more rumors flew about the threat of radical activity. That night, about 1,000 individuals gathered at the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) building on campus, which some demonstrators then set on fire. As firefighters tried to contain the blaze, demonstrators pulled at and slashed fire hoses. The National Guard arrived and cleared the area.

On May 3, nearly 1,200 National Guardsmen occupied the Kent State campus. That night, students who were expecting a meeting with officials blocked traffic on the edge of campus. When the demonstrators grew hostile, the Riot Act was read and the Guard forcibly dispersed the crowd, using bayonets and tear gas, resulting in injuries on both sides.

On May 4, approximately 3,000 people had gathered in the middle of campus by 11 am. Shortly after the protest began, guardsmen fired tear gas at the students and began following them directly. After several standoffs, the troops headed back to the top of a steep hill, where they turned toward the demonstrators and fired into the crowd for 13 seconds.

The National Guard fired 61-67 rounds over 13 seconds

The events of that day began when the National Guard was ordered to disperse a crowd of demonstrators. The Guard fired tear gas into the crowd, which then began to retreat. The Guard pursued the protesters up and over Blanket Hill, a steep hill on campus. Once over the hill, the students moved toward a parking lot in front of Prentice Hall. The guardsmen followed, but soon found themselves trapped in a fenced-in corner of an athletic practice field. Here, they remained for about 10 minutes, unsure of how to get out. During this time, rocks and other objects were thrown at them.

The guardsmen eventually found their way back up the hill, and as they reached the top, several of them turned and fired their rifles at the protesters. The shooting lasted for 13 seconds, although one witness reported that it "appeared to go on, as a solid volley, for perhaps a full minute or a little longer." The Guard gave no verbal warning before opening fire, and many protesters assumed the guns were loaded with blanks.

The shooting had a profound impact on the nation. It triggered a nationwide student strike, forcing hundreds of colleges and universities to close. It also turned the tide of public opinion against the Vietnam War and is thought to have played a role in the downfall of the Nixon administration.

The incident triggered a nationwide student strike and forced hundreds of colleges to close

The Kent State shootings, also known as the Kent State massacre or May 4 massacre, triggered a nationwide student strike and forced hundreds of colleges to close. The incident also dramatically changed the nation and symbolised the political and social divides brought on by the Vietnam War.

The Kent State shootings took place on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on Kent State University students protesting against the Vietnam War. Four students were killed, and nine were injured. The incident caused outrage on campuses across the country, with more than 4 million students participating in organised walk-outs at hundreds of universities, colleges and high schools.

The shootings and the subsequent strike affected public opinion at a socially contentious time over the role of the United States in the Vietnam War. The strike also affected national politics, with H.R. Haldeman, a top aide to President Richard Nixon, suggesting that the shootings began the slide into Watergate, eventually destroying the Nixon administration.

The impact of the Kent State shootings was felt across the country, with more than 4 million students participating in the strike and hundreds of colleges and universities forced to close. The strike sent a powerful message of solidarity and added to the growing anti-war sentiment in the United States. It also served as a reminder of the deep political and social divisions that sharply divided the country during the Vietnam War era.

The strike also had a significant impact on Kent State University itself, which was closed immediately after the shootings and remained closed for six weeks. The university administration, faculty and students were deeply affected by the tragedy and worked to provide support and comfort to those impacted. The university also conducted research and shared information about the shootings to raise awareness and promote healing.

The Kent State massacre symbolised the deep political and social divisions during the Vietnam War era

The Kent State massacre, in which four students were killed and nine wounded, symbolised the deep political and social divisions during the Vietnam War era. The killings highlighted the extent of the opposition to the war and the Nixon administration.

The massacre took place on May 4, 1970, when the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of Kent State University demonstrators. The students were protesting against the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia and the presence of the National Guard on campus. The National Guard had been called in by the mayor of Kent, who feared further disturbances after a night of violent protest in the city.

The killings triggered a nationwide student strike, with more than 4 million students participating in organised walk-outs at universities, colleges and high schools. The public outcry forced hundreds of campuses to close. The incident also prompted widespread debate about the constitutionality of the protests and the decisions to ban them.

The Kent State massacre was a pivotal moment in the anti-Vietnam War movement and a tragic symbol of the deep political and social divisions in the United States during that era. The event was immortalised in Neil Young's song "Ohio", which questioned the policies of President Nixon. The song was released as a single, wrapped in a sleeve that reprinted Article I of the Bill of Rights, emphasising the right to peaceful assembly.

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