Today is the 35th anniversary of the Kent State killings — May 4, 1970.
The one and only time I was ever suspended from school was for wearing a black armband on my suit jacket at prep school (yes, prep school; it’s not just for Taylor anymore)on the 5th anniversary. I was one of four who were suspended.
The first time I was ever teargassed was at a 1978 demonstration at Kent State where we were protesting the college administration’s decision to build a new Gym on the site of the killings. They bussed in kids from all over the country — I was part of the UMass contingent.
The incident should always remind us that the politics of confrontation have costs that must be borne, now and then — or even more often.
Kids were shot and died while protesting. There was a draft back then so the struggle seemed more personal…
like the one we’re in now isn’t.

May 4th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
Yes. It seems we should have a little these days.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
Yes. It seems we should have a little these days.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
Yes. It seems we should have a little these days.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
Yes. It seems we should have a little these days.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:54 pm
Yes. It seems we should have a little these days.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Vietnam War protest, Kent State University, Ohio. Four kids were shot while protesting by a contingent of National Guardsmen. It galvanized the anti-war movement, and made a lot of people who hadn’t made up their minds about the war shift sides.
Neil Young’s song “Ohio” is about the incident.
“Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We’re finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Shoulda been done long ago
What if you knew here and
Found her dead on the ground
How could you run when you know”
May 4th, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Vietnam War protest, Kent State University, Ohio. Four kids were shot while protesting by a contingent of National Guardsmen. It galvanized the anti-war movement, and made a lot of people who hadn’t made up their minds about the war shift sides.
Neil Young’s song “Ohio” is about the incident.
“Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We’re finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Shoulda been done long ago
What if you knew here and
Found her dead on the ground
How could you run when you know”
May 4th, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Vietnam War protest, Kent State University, Ohio. Four kids were shot while protesting by a contingent of National Guardsmen. It galvanized the anti-war movement, and made a lot of people who hadn’t made up their minds about the war shift sides.
Neil Young’s song “Ohio” is about the incident.
“Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We’re finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Shoulda been done long ago
What if you knew here and
Found her dead on the ground
How could you run when you know”
May 4th, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Vietnam War protest, Kent State University, Ohio. Four kids were shot while protesting by a contingent of National Guardsmen. It galvanized the anti-war movement, and made a lot of people who hadn’t made up their minds about the war shift sides.
Neil Young’s song “Ohio” is about the incident.
“Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We’re finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Shoulda been done long ago
What if you knew here and
Found her dead on the ground
How could you run when you know”
May 4th, 2005 at 8:48 pm
Vietnam War protest, Kent State University, Ohio. Four kids were shot while protesting by a contingent of National Guardsmen. It galvanized the anti-war movement, and made a lot of people who hadn’t made up their minds about the war shift sides.
Neil Young’s song “Ohio” is about the incident.
“Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We’re finally on our own
This summer I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are cutting us down
Shoulda been done long ago
What if you knew here and
Found her dead on the ground
How could you run when you know”
May 4th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Humility.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Humility.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Humility.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Humility.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:43 pm
Humility.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Can you post something about what actually happened?
Sorry to say but this event is older than I am and I’ve never heard it mentioned before.
::sheepish::
May 4th, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Can you post something about what actually happened?
Sorry to say but this event is older than I am and I’ve never heard it mentioned before.
::sheepish::
May 4th, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Can you post something about what actually happened?
Sorry to say but this event is older than I am and I’ve never heard it mentioned before.
::sheepish::
May 4th, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Can you post something about what actually happened?
Sorry to say but this event is older than I am and I’ve never heard it mentioned before.
::sheepish::
May 4th, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Can you post something about what actually happened?
Sorry to say but this event is older than I am and I’ve never heard it mentioned before.
::sheepish::
May 4th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
I wore a black armband to commemorate in 1990 and my spanish teacher had a screaming fit at me. Told me how they were a bunch of dirty hippies whose clothes had grown into their skin… very strange experience for me since I really liked this woman.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
I wore a black armband to commemorate in 1990 and my spanish teacher had a screaming fit at me. Told me how they were a bunch of dirty hippies whose clothes had grown into their skin… very strange experience for me since I really liked this woman.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
I wore a black armband to commemorate in 1990 and my spanish teacher had a screaming fit at me. Told me how they were a bunch of dirty hippies whose clothes had grown into their skin… very strange experience for me since I really liked this woman.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
I wore a black armband to commemorate in 1990 and my spanish teacher had a screaming fit at me. Told me how they were a bunch of dirty hippies whose clothes had grown into their skin… very strange experience for me since I really liked this woman.
May 4th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
I wore a black armband to commemorate in 1990 and my spanish teacher had a screaming fit at me. Told me how they were a bunch of dirty hippies whose clothes had grown into their skin… very strange experience for me since I really liked this woman.