Family Members of Victims Seek Full Accounting for Events that Triggered National Outrage; Call for Healing and “Restorative Justice”
Kent, Ohio – On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students protesting America’s bombing of Cambodia during the Vietnam War. In a day that changed America, four students were killed and nine were wounded as they protested against the war. The incident triggered national outrage in a country already divided. In response to the Kent State Shootings, more than four million students rose up in dissent across 900 campuses, generating the only nationwide student protest in U.S. history. Fearing civil unrest, President Nixon was taken to Camp David for his protection.
The Ohio National Guard has never publicized the findings of its investigation of command responsibility for the shootings. And importantly, there has never been a public inquiry to hear, record and preserve the stories of those directly impacted by Kent State.
Forty years later, family members of those killed have initiated the Kent State Truth Tribunal to preserve and honor the stories of those whose lives have been touched by this tragedy. The Truth Tribunal will generate the only comprehensive historical record and live archive of the Kent State massacre. The tribunal will take place for four consecutive days, mirroring the events of 1970, and held at Franklin Square Deli Building, corner of Water & Main Streets, 110 S. Water Street, in downtown Kent, Ohio on May 1, 2, 3 & 4, 2010. Organizers are asking for all who were original participants and witnesses of the 1970 Kent State to pre-register at www.TruthTribunal.org
“The Kent State shootings have never been thoroughly examined,” said Laurel Krause who was 15 years old when her older sister Allison was cut down by a Guardsman’s bullet. “We hope the Kent State Truth Tribunal will shed light on the truth of the murders that transpired on May 4, 1970. We have not set out in pursuit of punitive justice, but rather the restorative justice that comes from collective, historical inquiry and healing,” she added.
Organizers are reaching out to participants and witnesses to the events of May 4th 1970 and others who were present on campus and in the community including protesters, Ohio National Guardsmen, Ohio State officials, local residents, students, family members and others who were affected by the shootings.
Among the confirmed participants will be
- Doris Krause – Mother of slain student protester Allison Krause
- Dean H. Kahler – KSU student wounded on May 4, 1970
- Marc Siegel – KSU student witness of May 4, 1970
- Sue Corbin – KSU student witness of May 4, 1970
- Emily Petrou – Kent resident and witness of May 4, 1970
- Joe Lewis – KSU student wounded on May 4, 1970
- Laurel Krause – Sister of slain student protester Allison Krause
The personal narratives of original 1970 Kent State witnesses and participants will be beamed via integrated, new and social media technologies to broadcast live over the first four days of May 2010 and will be available on the Internet at the Truth Tribunal website where it will continue to grow (http://TruthTribunal.org).
The Library of Congress has expressed interest in the recorded masters of the Kent State Truth Tribunal event on May 1, 2, 3 & 4 for inclusion in the American Folklife Center. It is America’s first national archive of traditional life, and one of the oldest and largest of such repositories in the world.
With 18 days away until the event organizers report a groundswell of interest reflected by more than 500 face book fans in its first week, an upswing in registrations from original participants and an endorsement from Michael Moore who has offered free advertising and other support to the Truth Tribunal.
For more information, visit: http://www.truthtribunal.org
I will never forget that day in May, 1970. I was 10 years old when my cousin, Allison, was shot and killed at Kent. My parents, Lynn and Jack Krause, were out of town and heard the news on the radio. They drove directly to the hospital where Allison was taken. I had to tell my sisters the news.
Allison and I had a special bond. She used to visit my family in Cleveland when she was at Kent and take me to the Art Museum. She was intelligent and wonderful and kind. To this 10-year-old girl, she was the most amazing, “coolest”, and beautiful person I knew. I knew that I wanted to be just like her when I grew up!!
Now, at 50, forty years later, I still shed tears, every time I think of what a beautiful life was lost.
Please accept my deepest sympathies to all the families and friends who lost these beautiful, young lives to the atrocities at Kent State on May 4, 1970 – a day in our history that 40 years later still makes me physically ill just recalling it. Thank you to the Truth Tribunal and Michael Moore for “airing” the entire event. So many of us here in Oxford, OH, home of Miami University, will be closely watching and listening.
On May 4, 1970, I was 23, pregnant with my son who was expected any day. A part-time Miami college student and aware of the dissention, to say the least, that the Vietnam War had caused, I was one of so many living in my own little world; this subject was mostly a debate, but there was definitely a sense of danger or apprehension all around us. Honestly, when I heard what had happened: the shootings, killings of our piers at Kent State on orders given by our own Governor Rhodes, I was in complete shock. Any innocence remaining was GONE forever.
Hamilton, OH – 15 miles south of Miami University, I heard opinions of hate, i.e. “they got what they deserved” and worse. These were also “friends” of mine. My entire world turned upside down that day. I was bringing a child into a world that could allow this murderous event to occur and even be sanctioned by the highest office of the State of Ohio. In the next few days, my conservative friends were no longer considered to be friends. My liberal, free-thinking, friends who were and had been marching against racism, the war, the U.S. policies around the world became my true and real friends. My small world became so much larger then. If nothing else, the events of that day were proof enough for me in what was right and what was wrong! There was no middle ground anymore; no room for debate. My life was changed forever that day. The saddest day in every way became the turning point in my world. The horrible loses became so very real; the idea that many I called friends were full of hate. I will never forget May 4, 1970; I no longer abided any more hate speeches from anyone. I never trusted the government, local, state or federal, nor the local or national news media. My faith in any police, jurors, judges, was gone.
My baby was conceived in a divisive world, but was born in his small world to a mother who finally knew what was right and what was so very, very wrong. He was reared and taught by a mother who had “grown up” just 3 weeks before his birth. I am grateful to this day for my steadfast beliefs that still hold true – so many due to the unbelievable horror on May 4, 1970! WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
40 years, and here we are, still a nation filled with hate. After living through the Vietnam War, I never believed that our country would engage in another foolish war. How wrong I was.
May 4th was a horrible day in our country’s history and we should never forget about it. I am sad that so few people, in 2010, are aware of that shameful day.
Soon those of us who actually remember the horrors of Vietnam and Kent State will be gone. It scares me to see how easily history is revised and rewritten and the real truth is lost.
I still protest when I see injustice and I remember the idealistic young people at Kent State that lost their lives and were injured doing the very same thing.
Pray for peace.
(Robin, I babysat for you and your sisters when I was in H.S.)