Aftermath

The Kent State shootings were all over the news and people were appalled that anything like this could have happened. Hundreds of university campuses began protesting after the shootings at Kent State. Thousands of people went to Washington D.C. to protest the invasion of Cambodia and the shootings of the students. The Kent State shootings caused the largest student protest in America and caused hundreds of campuses to close for as along as a few weeks.

The Students That Were Killed on May 4th

A Student Cries Over the Body of her Friend

May 4, 1970

Although the National Guards were on campus and showed the students they weren't afraid to use force, it didn't stop the students from protesting what they believe is wrong. The students kept up their protests and gathered in the commons. They were told to break up the gathering by the National Guards, but the students refused to move. They began to shout at the Guards when they were ordered to seperate the group. Most of the group was made of protesters, but there were a lot of students just passing by to get to their next classes. The Guards began to march towards to students with their guns, which frightened the students. The Guards pushed the students to the football field using tear gas and occasionaly clubbing a few students. The students attacked back by throwing stones at the Guards, however the stones did no harm to the Guards because the stones never reached them. The Guards were told to retreat back to the commons, and as the Guards were walking away they all turned around and began firing at the students. According to the court case there was a verbal command for the National Guards to fire at the students. The Guards killed four students, and injured nine, a few of the students that were hit by the bullets were just passing by to get to their classes. This day is also called the May 4th massacre.

Protestors On Campus

May 3, 1970

The governor of Ohio, James Rhodes, sent the National Guard to the Kent State University campus. Rhodes sent them there in hopes to settle down the protestors and keep everything under control. The students resented the guards, and the guards resented the students, which made the over all mood on the campus malicious. Rhodes visited the campus to deliver a speech. In his speech he talked about how the students who were protesting were attempting to destroy the education system in Ohio. Rhodes declared that these students were worst than communists and that he will do everything in his ability to drive them off of the Kent State University campus. The students were outraged and began planning another riot near the Commons. During this the National Guards received permission to shoot if necessary. This gave the Guards confidence that they would be able to control the riots. The crowd of students at the Commons were told to disperse because the Guards initiated a curfew for all of them. The students didn't go easily, which allowed the Guards to enforce their orders and throw tear gas into the crowd. The Guards also clubbed some students who weren't obeying the orders. Once the students were all prodded back into their dorms, helicopters were flying over head to make sure no students were out past their curfew.

ROTC On Fire