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.