The Kent State Massacre

When I was 8 years old, my biggest fear was Vietnam. I had two uncles that went over there, only one returned. The big kids in my neighborhood wore “black power” and “freedom” buttons and patches on their jackets, they talked about the was in Vietnam and of the stories they heard, and at eight years old, those stories, it didn’t matter if they were real or not, scared me like the Boogeyman.

Many young men had dreams of an education so they could live better than their parents, of pretty girls and success! Being drafted made it almost certain that a young man’s dreams would stay just that, “a dream.” So, young men (and women) chose to make their stand and fight right here at home. Young Americans knew that they had rights and a voice to be heard. But, our government did not want to hear their voices and that is where the trouble began. The massacre at Kent State was an example of “order gone wrong.” The University President feared an uprising, the Mayor of Kent feared for the safety of his city and the Governor of Ohio simply wanted to keep young people in line. So, he allowed maybe, an ambitious General to order his National Guardsmen to “lock and load” their weapons and face a crowd of young, civilians armed with only their voices.

All it took was a noise, maybe the crack from a stick under a guardsmen’s boot to start the shooting.

13 seconds, 67 shots to kill 4 and wound 9.

There was massive backlash, but this story leads only up to the shooting. And if you are ready to hear it.

Press play.