Kent State Shooting, May 4, 1970: Sounds and Images
Forty-two years ago today, Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on an anti-war rally on the Kent State University campus, wounding nine and killing four.
Kent State student Alan Canfora was one of the students who gathered on the school’s Commons, a grassy area bounded by gentle hills. He says he was angry his friend was killed in Vietnam and that National Guard troops were on campus:
A total of 67 gunshots were fired by the guardsmen from the hilltop. Most of the bullets were fired over 300 feet into the distant Prentice Hall parking lot. Two of the students killed, Allison Krause and Jeff Miller, were protesters. Two others, Sandy Scheuer and Bill Schroeder were bystanders. Jeff was killed 275 feet away from his killer. Allison was 350 feet away. Sandy and Bill were approximately 390 feet away.
Here’s what the scene looked and sounded like that day, courtesy of WKSU’s archive:
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National Guard personnel wearing gas masks walk toward the crowd on May 4, 1970.
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National Guard personnel wearing gas masks walk toward the crowd on May 4, 1970.
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National Guard troops on the Kent State campus hold rifles on May 4, 1970.
