Embedded Files
The People's Reactions
The People's Reactions
Many different emotions were felt by multiple people about the incident. Parents of the wounded and murdered students were angry at the choices made by the U.S government regarding what happened to their child. Meanwhile, guards and community members of Kent State in Ohio felt little sympathy because they felt endangered by the students who were throwing various things, such as rocks. It's important to know the gaurds were throwing tear gas at the students before they began shooting however, so it went both ways.
"Some guardsmen on campus evidenced little if any regret over the killings. ‘It's about time we showed the bastards who's in charge,’ said one. And many of the townspeople of Kent shared the same sentiment. ‘You can't really help but kind of think they've been asking for it and finally got it,’ said a motel clerk” (Newsweek, May 18, 1970).
Screen print poster made by an Oberlin College student, just after May 4, 1970, from The Oberlin Sancuary Project
"Allison's father was even angrier. ‘May her death be on [Nixon's] back,’ he snapped. His daughter, he said, ‘resented being called a bum because she disagreed with someone else's opinion.’ Is dissent a crime?’ he asked. ‘Is this such a reason for killing her? Have we come to such a state in this country that a young girl has to be shot because she disagrees deeply with the actions of her government?’” (Newsweek, May 18, 1970).
This photo is showing the guardsmen throwing tear gas at the protesters because they believed them to be dangerous. The students were throwing things at the guards in return which was why many people took the side of the guards after they fired. This image is important because it gives us visual insight of what really happened that day.
Kent, Ohio: May 4, 1970..National Guard troops throw tear gas, 4 May 1970, Britannica Image Quest.
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