May 4th Shootings at Kent State

Conclusion

Home

Timeline

Interactive Campus Map

Interviews
=>Alan Canfora
=>Dr. Lewis
=>Dr. Carole Barbato
=>Prof. Laura Davis =>Joe Lewis

Conclusion

Analysis

The students at Kent Sate protested the Vietnam War in May 1970. The Ohio National Guard were sent in to keep the protesters under control. On May 4th, four students were killed by the guardsmen, and nine were injured. This event became know as the "Kent State Shootings." The question people argue about is "Why the guardsmen fired?".  Two possible reasons are:

1. the guardsmen fired in self-defense, and the shootings were justified.
2. the guardsmen were not in immediate danger, and the shootings were unjustified.

Alan Canfora says "The Guardsmen were not in any danger, yet they shot and killed four people."  If this was the case then the shootings were unjustified.

 Richard Nixon attempted to turn any protest against the war into an act of protest against our country. Kent State taught us that because of our freedom of speech, we all have a right to express our feelings and protest against what we feel is unjust.