Douglas Olsen
On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students, Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder, were killed by the Ohio National Guard during a rally protesting the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia and the National Guard's presence on campus. The incident, known as the Kent State shootings or the Kent State massacre, sparked widespread outrage and symbolised the deep political and social divisions in the United States during the Vietnam War era. The National Guard's use of lethal force and the resulting deaths of unarmed students have been the subject of controversy and investigations, with a subsequent report concluding that the shootings were unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | May 4, 1970 |
| Location | Kent State University, Kent, Ohio |
| Number of students killed | 4 |
| Names of students killed | Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, William Schroeder |
| Ages of students killed | 19-20 |
| Number of students wounded | 9 |
| Number of shots fired | 61-67 |
| Time taken to fire shots | 13 seconds |
| Organization responsible | Ohio National Guard |
| Type of protest | Anti-war, opposing US involvement in Cambodia |
| Previous incidents of note | Protests against police recruiters on campus in 1968; building burned down in May 1970 |
| Aftermath | Nationwide student strike; establishment of the President's Commission on Campus Unrest |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Kent State University students were protesting the US invasion of Cambodia
- The Ohio National Guard were on campus to quell demonstrations
- The Guardsmen fired 61-67 rounds in 13 seconds
- Four students were killed and nine were wounded
- The Scranton Commission found the Ohio National Guard's use of lethal force was unjustified
The Kent State University students were protesting the US invasion of Cambodia
On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed during a protest against the US invasion of Cambodia. The killings, known as the Kent State shootings or the Kent State massacre, occurred when members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a crowd of demonstrators, killing four and wounding nine. The students who were killed were Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder. They were shot during a 13-second volley of 61 to 67 rounds, with the guardsmen facing a large and hostile crowd.
The protest was one of many that erupted across college campuses in response to President Nixon's announcement of the invasion of Cambodia. On April 30, 1970, Nixon revealed that US and South Vietnamese troops were mounting a significant invasion of Cambodia, which had been a haven for Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops. The bombing of Cambodia had been kept secret for months, and the announcement of a wider military campaign enraged students.
Kent State University had a history of political activism, with over ten organizations involved in anti-war and civil rights activism from 1965 to 1970. The protests on May 4 were particularly large, with approximately 3,000 people gathering in the centre of the campus. Demonstrations had been banned, but students were undeterred. After a series of standoffs and the firing of tear gas, troops fired live rounds into the crowd.
The impact of the Kent State shootings was profound and symbolic of the deep political and social divisions in the US during the Vietnam War era. The event triggered a nationwide student strike, forcing colleges and universities to close. It also highlighted the presence of activist student movements and the growing opposition to the Vietnam War and US foreign policy. The incident was a seminal moment in modern US history, sparking debates about civil liberties, government accountability, and the role of the military in domestic affairs.
Art Academy University: Student Population Insights
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Ohio National Guard were on campus to quell demonstrations
On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed by the Ohio National Guard during a rally against the US military's expanding involvement in the Vietnam War. The Ohio National Guard had been called to the campus to quell demonstrations that had been ongoing since President Nixon's announcement of the invasion of Cambodia on April 30, 1970. The protests, which were part of a wider anti-war movement, had resulted in violence and confrontations over the preceding days, with a Reserve Officer Training Corp building on the university campus being burned to the ground.
The National Guard's presence on campus was met with further demonstrations, with approximately 3,000 people gathering in the centre of the campus. The guardsmen ordered the protesters to disperse, but this order was ignored, and witnesses reported that rocks were thrown. The guardsmen then fired tear gas into the crowd and, following a series of standoffs, fired live rounds into the crowd. Twenty-eight National Guard soldiers fired around 61 to 67 rounds over 13 seconds, killing four students: Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder; and wounding nine others, one of whom was permanently paralysed.
The impact of the shootings was significant, triggering a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close. The event also had a profound impact on national politics, with H. R. Haldeman, a top aide to President Nixon, suggesting that the shootings contributed to the slide into Watergate and the eventual downfall of the Nixon administration. The shootings have come to symbolise the deep political and social divisions that sharply polarised the country during the Vietnam War era.
The President's Commission on Campus Unrest, known as the Scranton Commission, was established in the aftermath of the killings to investigate the events. The Commission's report concluded that the use of lethal force by the guardsmen was unjustified, even if they had faced danger. The report also highlighted the inadequate fire control discipline on Blanket Hill, where the shootings occurred. While there has been debate about the extent to which the guardsmen's lives were in danger, there is little doubt that they faced a hostile crowd and that further tragedy was prevented by the actions of Kent State University faculty marshals.
The Kent State shootings continue to be a significant event in US history, reflecting the political and cultural divides of the time. The event has been immortalised in various forms, including the song "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and an iconic photograph of a young woman screaming as she knelt over the body of one of the students.
Clemson University PhD Students: Walking at Graduation
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Guardsmen fired 61-67 rounds in 13 seconds
On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed by the Ohio National Guard. The students were protesting the US invasion of Cambodia and the presence of the National Guard on campus. The Guardsmen fired 61-67 rounds in 13 seconds, killing Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder, and wounding nine others.
The events of that day were marked by escalating tension and violence. In the days leading up to the shooting, there had been protests and confrontations between students and the National Guard, with a Reserve Officer Training Corp building being burned down. On the day of the shooting, approximately 3,000 people had gathered in the centre of the campus. The guardsmen ordered the protesters to disperse, but this order was ignored, and witnesses reported that rocks were thrown. The guardsmen then fired tear gas and, following a series of standoffs, they fired live rounds into the crowd.
The impact of the shootings was significant and far-reaching. They triggered a nationwide student strike, forcing colleges and universities to close. The shootings also symbolised the deep political and social divisions in the country during the Vietnam War era. The event was immortalised in the song "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, which was released a few weeks after the incident.
The President's Commission on Campus Unrest was established in the aftermath of the shootings to investigate the events. The Commission's report concluded that the use of lethal force by the guardsmen was unjustified, and that the shootings were ""unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable." Despite this, no one was ever found guilty of the murder or manslaughter of the four students.
The University constructed a memorial to the four students in 1999, and the events of May 4, 1970, continue to be remembered and commemorated on the Kent State University campus.
Duke University Student Population: How Many?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Four students were killed and nine were wounded
On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed, and nine were wounded by the Ohio National Guard. The students were protesting the US invasion of Cambodia and the presence of the National Guard on campus. The National Guard fired 61 to 67 rounds over 13 seconds, killing Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder, and wounding nine others, one of whom was permanently paralysed.
The shootings triggered a nationwide student strike, forcing colleges and universities to close. The event also symbolised the deep political and social divisions that sharply divided the country during the Vietnam War era. The students who were killed were shot in the back, including two women who had been walking to class. The impact of the shootings was far-reaching, with President Nixon establishing the President's Commission on Campus Unrest to investigate the growing dissent, disorder, and violence on college campuses.
The Report of the President's Commission on Campus Unrest concluded that the shootings were "unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable." Despite this, no one was ever found guilty of the murder or manslaughter of the four students. The memorial for the students at Kent State University does not include their names, but a plaque with their names was installed near it after pressure from the victims' families.
The events of that day have been characterised as a tragedy and a seminal moment in modern US history. The iconic photograph of a young woman screaming as she knelt over the body of a student came to symbolise the political and cultural divide. The song "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was released a few weeks after the event, immortalising the Kent State shootings.
The Kent State shootings were not an isolated incident of violence on college campuses during that time. Two years earlier, in 1968, three students were killed and 28 were injured in Orangeburg, South Carolina, during a peaceful protest. In the same year, Black United Students staged a sit-in at Kent State University to protest against police recruiters on campus.
Christian University Student Population in Arizona
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Scranton Commission found the Ohio National Guard's use of lethal force was unjustified
On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed by the Ohio National Guard during a rally opposing the expanding involvement of the Vietnam War into Cambodia. Twenty-eight National Guard soldiers fired around 67 rounds over 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others. The four students who died were Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Lee Scheuer, and William Schroeder.
In response to the killings, President Nixon established the President's Commission on Campus Unrest, known as the Scranton Commission, to study the dissent, disorder, and violence on college campuses across the nation. The Commission issued its findings in September 1970, concluding that the Ohio National Guard's use of lethal force was "unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable." The report acknowledged that the guardsmen may have faced danger but asserted that it did not warrant the use of lethal force. It was noted that no order to fire was given, and there was a lack of fire control discipline on Blanket Hill.
The Scranton Commission's report placed significant blame on the tactical errors and the use of live ammunition by the National Guard. It criticized the heavy-handed tactics employed by the National Guard and highlighted the war as a central source of student agitation. The Commission's findings also attributed some blame to the provocations of violent protestors, acknowledging that the situation escalated due to the actions of both parties.
The impact of the shootings was far-reaching, triggering a nationwide student strike and forcing the closure of hundreds of colleges and universities. The event symbolized the deep political and social divisions during the Vietnam War era and had a lasting impact on national politics. The Scranton Commission's findings played a crucial role in bringing attention to the unjustified use of lethal force by the Ohio National Guard and holding them accountable for their actions.
Transylvania University's Student Population: How Many?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
On May 4, 1970, around 3000 people had gathered at Kent State University to protest the US invasion of Cambodia and the presence of the Ohio National Guard on campus. The Guard fired 61-67 rounds into the crowd over 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others.
The four students who were killed were Allison Krause (aged 19), Jeffrey Miller (aged 20), Sandra Scheuer (aged 20), and William Schroeder (aged 19).
The Kent State shootings triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close. The event also symbolised the deep political and social divisions across the US during the Vietnam War era.
