Q. Was the ROTC building active for Kent
State?
A.
Yes, the ROTC program
was active at KSU in 1970. New
officers were required for the
continuing war in Vietnam as well as
other assignments.
Q. What do you know about the Kent State
shootings?
A.
As an eye witness I know what I saw
and experienced. There was no need
to fire, no threat to the safety of
the guardsmen, and no students near
them. They turned in unison and
began firing without warning of any
kind or provocation as if there was
an order or previous agreement to
shoot.
Q. How did you become interested in this
shootings?
A.
I was
deliberately shot twice by two men
who admitted it.
Q. Why do you think the national guards
shot into the protest?
A.
My
belief is that the Nixon administration
wanted a show of force to stop dissent
in
America, and used this shooting
to send a message to other dissenters
through communication with Governor
Rhodes and Mayor Satrom.
Q. Where were you during the shootings?
A.
I was 65 feet in front of the line
of guardsmen, silent and
motionless, and when they aimed at
me, I gave ‘em the finger.
Q. How did the Kent State
shootings change your life?
A.
I nearly died and became radicalized
forever, distrusting the government
and all authority. I did however
marry one of our paralegals from the
civil trial and we had a son, Chris.
Q.
How do
you feel about how Kent State is treated in history
today?
A.
The attitude is changing and
continues to lend more support to
our point of view. The crimes of
the Bush administration exceed those
of the Nixon administration and so
there is something to compare to.
Q.
With the war in Iraq going on, do you
think the students today are involved as
they were back then?
A. Not without the draft. It was a
vocal minority then too.
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