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Kent State Shootings

Kent State Shootings. Background: Kent State. Public University Established in 1910 Located in Kent Ohio One of the larger Universities in Ohio. Background: Protests. Background: Protests. In 1968, President Nixon promised the nation that he would begin winding down the Vietnam War

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Kent State Shootings

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  1. Kent State Shootings

  2. Background: Kent State • Public University • Established in 1910 • Located in Kent Ohio • One of the larger Universities in Ohio

  3. Background: Protests

  4. Background: Protests • In 1968, President Nixon promised the nation that he would begin winding down the Vietnam War • “Peace with honor”

  5. Background: Protests • Initially kept his word • But, in April it was announced on live television that the United States would be invading Cambodia • Caused public outcry across the nation

  6. May 1st (Friday) • Students at Kent State held a peaceful anti-war protest • Planned another protest for Monday the 4th • Later that day students out at the local bars restarted the protest on the Kent city streets.

  7. May 1st (Friday) • In response, the mayor of Kent (LeRoySatrom) called in all available police to contain the demonstrators • Also closed the bars, causing more people to join the protests • As time went on the protest increasingly more violent; bonfires, blocked traffic, and throwing rocks and bottles • Police eventually used teargas to push the protesters back to the Campus

  8. May 2nd (Saturday) • Kent Mayor meets with advisors and National Guard representatives • On Campus, the ROTC building was set on fire and burned to the ground • Decision was made to ask Governor Rhodes for National Guard assistance • Fearful of rumors that revolutionaries were in the crowds

  9. May 3rd (Sunday) • By Sunday morning over 1000 Guardsmen were on the campus • Beautiful and warm day, students chatting with the Guardsmen

  10. May 3rd (Sunday) • Ohio Governor James Rhodes flew into Kent State to see the situation • Made several inflammatory statements • Called the protestors: “the worst kind of people in America” • Decision was made to ban Monday’s rally

  11. May 4th (Monday) • University distributed leaflets informing students that the protest had been banned • Rally was held anyway, but now against the National Guard presence on the campus • University and National Guard leaders got on bullhorns and ordered students to disperse

  12. May 4th (Monday) • Guardsmen were ordered to lock and load their weapons • Began to march across the commons, intending to push the students back • Inadvertently got separated and trapped in a sea of students/protestors

  13. May 4th (Monday) • 28 Guardsmen suddenly opened fire • Most fired into the air, but some fired into the crowd • 4 students were killed, 9 wounded

  14. May 4th (Monday)

  15. Reaction to the shooting • Nation was sent into an uproar • Kent State was closed for the semester • Hundreds of other colleges around the country were closed • Nixon (and many in the nation) blamed the protestors • Guardsmen claimed they were acting in self defense, later proven by the FBI to be false • A week later 100,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. to protest the invasion of Cambodia • When he heard of the tragedy Neil Young wrote the song “Ohio”

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