Remembering Kent State - May 4th - 1970
On May 4th, 1970 at Kent State University in Ohio, students protesting the escalation of the War in Vietnam into Cambodia by the Republican Nixon administration, were gunned down by members of the National Guard. Four students were killed by rifle fire from the troops and 9 were seriously wounded.
The shootings led to protests on college campuses throughout the nation, and a student strike - causing over 450 university campuses across the United States and Canada to close with both violent and non-violent demonstrations. A common sentiment was expressed by students at New York University with a banner hung out of a window which read 'They Can't Kill Us All.'
Just five days after the shootings, 100,000 people demonstrated in Washington, D.C. against the war and the murder of student protesters. Ray Price, Nixon's chief speechwriter from 1969-74 recalled the Washington demonstrations saying, "The city was an armed camp. The mobs were smashing windows, slashing tires, dragging parked cars into intersections, even throwing bed springs off overpasses into the traffic down below. President Richard Nixon was taken to Camp David for two days for his own protection and safety. Charles Colson (Counsel to President Nixon from 1969 to 1973) stated that the military had to be called up to protect the nations's administration from the angry students.
Remember Kent State because 'war culture' continues!
More Photos of Kent State on May 4th, 1970.
National Geographic on Kent State ...
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kent state
Thanks for posting this. I'm going to link to it right now.
Kent State is one of early political memories. I'm from the US; my brother was draft-age in 1970. My parents were active against the war, and this was a riveting moment in our home.
Somewhere on my blog I have a link to an interview with an eyewitness survivor of the massacre. I'll have to look for it.
Posted by
laura k |
5:06 pm, May 04, 2008
Thanks l-girl. I remember it well. I was absolutely furious with the killing of students who were doing nothing more than non-violent protest. - I hold responsible those who are driven by blind right-wing ideology since that time.
Posted by
leftdog |
6:27 pm, May 04, 2008
Did you notice that the Republicans were in power during the Kent state situation and the Republicans are in charge now?
And that both times, the nation's in a parlous state? And people keep voting these clowns in?
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In Canada, it's the same thing with the Conservatives. Harper's ruining the country piece by piece day by day and we have to stop him now!.
Time for an election and a good look to the definition to "treason" and "subversion of the national interest".
Posted by
Anonymous |
7:45 pm, May 04, 2008
Thank you. I was too young to remember, but I still can't think about it or listen to that song without getting upset. We must never forget.
I've sent the link to my son. He'll get it.
Posted by
Jennifer Smith |
10:51 pm, May 04, 2008
Great minds, Dawg! It's interesting that you and I chose different vids of the same song with which to highlight our articles.
We must never forget the history of oppression, because to do so insures that it will happen again.
It's a good thing there are a few of us Vietnam era activists still around to remind folks.
Posted by
TomCat |
12:42 pm, May 05, 2008