May 4, 1970 was a very historical day in the history of Kent State. Students held an anti-war protest against the Vietnam war. It took place at Taylor Hall near the liberty bell on campus. According to dept.kent.edu there were about 500 actual "core demonstraters", about 1000 people acing as a cheering squad so to speak, who weren't quite participating in the demonstrations but definately urged them on. To make a grand total of approximately 3000 people at this rally, about 1500 were simply spectators. Also present at twelve noon, were about 100 Ohio National Guardsmen. Students and instructors alike as well as others present at or around the liberty bell were told to disperse by a police man with a bullhorn. After the bullhorn didn't work he got into a jeep and drove into the crowd, only to be met with rocks and nasty words being thrown his way, so he retreated. After this General Canterbury (general of the national guard) ordered his men to lock and load. Then all hell broke loose and shots were fired by the National Guard. Among the shootings between 61 and 67 shots were fired in a 13 second period. Four Kent State students died in the mayhem and nine were injured. After the shootings the Natoinal Guard retreated and ambulances and parents were called and the school shut down until the summer.
If I had been a student at Kent during the rally, shootings, Vietnam War, and the 70's, I would've probably been somwhere within view of the rally at the bell. It's a really scary thing that the National Guard was called to a school in Ohio, where nothing significant ever happens. I feel as though I would've been an unlucky spectator who might've gotten shot in the throat. And that is a scary thing.
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