I am a native Ohioan. Some of my relatives, now deceased, would have been MAGA in today’s world. During a family gathering at my aunt’s house the subject of Kent State came up, not long after it happened.
An adult cousin, an otherwise nice guy named Sam ( college graduate, professional, President of a construction company), literally exploded.
He started yelling that the students were swinging tire chains and they deserved what happened to them. We were stunned. Sam was enraged. I remember two of my Aunts shaking and staring into space. I’m glad my Mom wasn’t there, because she would have probably have been mortified. My Mother could be a firebrand and when confronted with BS like that she could literally explode.
Anyway my cousin Rick and I went downstairs to the den and had a shot of single malt. Rick kept shaking his head and looked deathly pale. What a day. Kent State was a disgrace to our country. That’s the kind of polarization that exists today.
Thanks for sharing your story. But these stories really anger me because out of 18k Kent State students, there were only about 200 active protestors. Remember Kent State was a commuter school. The kids who got shot were walking to class or congregating near the Commons because they were curious about what was going on.
I am happy I read all those eye-witness accounts. I had no clue there was so much anger toward the students until I heard it from their mouths. Not much has changed.
I was on campus in Kent just days after the shooting, as a 15 year old. Went with my father to pick up my cousin who was a student. Eerily quiet, big police presence. I think the National Guard were gone by then, I don't really remember.
This is beautifully written! I'm a Kent grad, although this was before I was born. I had professors who found it hard to discuss, and remember hearing Vecchio speak at a festival (apparently she had a hard time getting a job because she kept her appearance and everyone associated her with this) and seeing Jeffrey Miller's parents at a candlelight vigil in the J-school parking lot – because that's what the site of his murder had then been turned into, with just a marker for him.
The moment I heard Taco was calling in the guard, I thought of my school and the dead students. I think in the aftermath of the shooting, people learned something. But I also think Taco and his team are well aware that people won't take well to Americans being shot. That's precisely why he's spent literally 12 years grooming his followers with messages of hate.
He thrives on violence. He wants a situation where he can order troops to shoot students and be seen as a hero in Maga's eyes, which is why he's vilified students with a mind of their own for so long. At this point, he'll have enough backup. The msm no longer questions his actions, and sugar coats the worst of his worst. Maybe I'm too cynical, but I think if America ever learned from the past, we wouldn't have him as president right now. I'm very, very fearful for LA right now.
I really hope this part you wrote comes true: "Four million Americans took to the streets. And for the first time, the anti-war movement wasn't just the counterculture — it was the culture." We have to find a way to mobilize in very large numbers to make an impact.
One thing I think you omitted is that a security guard was accidentally killed in the fire in the ROTC building. That was the excuse the governor used for calling out the National Guard. Also the guardsmen were not trained for handling crowd control. They started firing because they were afraid of the students. No one gave an order to fire.
Young went to my HS, always proud to say. And years later I got to know the wife of the leader of the Columbia U takeover. That song was very popular in Canada 🇨🇦. Our Junior High had a couple of walkout around that time. Well this time was may have to arm ourselves a little bit better. If they take my SS, I will be destitute
This brought me to tears. Thank you for writing it.
Thank you for admitting it. Because I was crying while writing it and wondering if I was losing it. I don't usually type while crying!
tears here too.
Same here
I am a native Ohioan. Some of my relatives, now deceased, would have been MAGA in today’s world. During a family gathering at my aunt’s house the subject of Kent State came up, not long after it happened.
An adult cousin, an otherwise nice guy named Sam ( college graduate, professional, President of a construction company), literally exploded.
He started yelling that the students were swinging tire chains and they deserved what happened to them. We were stunned. Sam was enraged. I remember two of my Aunts shaking and staring into space. I’m glad my Mom wasn’t there, because she would have probably have been mortified. My Mother could be a firebrand and when confronted with BS like that she could literally explode.
Anyway my cousin Rick and I went downstairs to the den and had a shot of single malt. Rick kept shaking his head and looked deathly pale. What a day. Kent State was a disgrace to our country. That’s the kind of polarization that exists today.
Thanks for sharing your story. But these stories really anger me because out of 18k Kent State students, there were only about 200 active protestors. Remember Kent State was a commuter school. The kids who got shot were walking to class or congregating near the Commons because they were curious about what was going on.
I am happy I read all those eye-witness accounts. I had no clue there was so much anger toward the students until I heard it from their mouths. Not much has changed.
I was on campus in Kent just days after the shooting, as a 15 year old. Went with my father to pick up my cousin who was a student. Eerily quiet, big police presence. I think the National Guard were gone by then, I don't really remember.
Interesting. I love hearing the stories from people who remember that day.
This is beautifully written! I'm a Kent grad, although this was before I was born. I had professors who found it hard to discuss, and remember hearing Vecchio speak at a festival (apparently she had a hard time getting a job because she kept her appearance and everyone associated her with this) and seeing Jeffrey Miller's parents at a candlelight vigil in the J-school parking lot – because that's what the site of his murder had then been turned into, with just a marker for him.
The moment I heard Taco was calling in the guard, I thought of my school and the dead students. I think in the aftermath of the shooting, people learned something. But I also think Taco and his team are well aware that people won't take well to Americans being shot. That's precisely why he's spent literally 12 years grooming his followers with messages of hate.
He thrives on violence. He wants a situation where he can order troops to shoot students and be seen as a hero in Maga's eyes, which is why he's vilified students with a mind of their own for so long. At this point, he'll have enough backup. The msm no longer questions his actions, and sugar coats the worst of his worst. Maybe I'm too cynical, but I think if America ever learned from the past, we wouldn't have him as president right now. I'm very, very fearful for LA right now.
I really hope this part you wrote comes true: "Four million Americans took to the streets. And for the first time, the anti-war movement wasn't just the counterculture — it was the culture." We have to find a way to mobilize in very large numbers to make an impact.
Thank you for this post.
I remember & feel this vividly. I was 11.
And it’s about to happen again. Just like the last time there’s too much fear that is feeding the beast to stop the momentum.
One thing I think you omitted is that a security guard was accidentally killed in the fire in the ROTC building. That was the excuse the governor used for calling out the National Guard. Also the guardsmen were not trained for handling crowd control. They started firing because they were afraid of the students. No one gave an order to fire.
Excellent piece. Thanks
Young went to my HS, always proud to say. And years later I got to know the wife of the leader of the Columbia U takeover. That song was very popular in Canada 🇨🇦. Our Junior High had a couple of walkout around that time. Well this time was may have to arm ourselves a little bit better. If they take my SS, I will be destitute