Interview with math professor Nancy Rodgers about her experiences during and after the shootings at Kent State University on May 4, 1970. This program is a project of COM 246 Media Writing students at Hanover College.
One of the best and a dispassionate (as far as a person can be about such a traumatic event) discussions of the Kent State massacre that I have seen. Professor Rogers is a remarkable source of first-hand testimony of the massacre, the events leading up to the massacre, and the social and political environment in which it took place. Having written about the massacre, and having been both a student protester and member of the National Guard (not in Ohio), and finally a war resister, I can say without hesitation that small rocks thrown from where some of the students were standing near the practice field were neither a bodily threat to the guard, nor did the protest constitute a violent demonstration.
So is it okay to throw things at either the law or military guard and think you can get away with that? Wether or not lethal force was justified or not, throwing things and burning things down is still not a “peaceful protest.”🤔
This interview is priceless. Professor Rogers perspective is exceptionally sharp, informed, and wise to the crazy-making events she unravelled and made easy to understand.
I was there that day in 1970. I was a Freshman and I lived in the hall at the top of the hill across from the library. My friend and my roomate's girlfriend was Alison Krause. It affected me greatly and I can see it happening in my mind when I think about it. The attorney general of the U.S. interviewed me one day and I was surprised at all the pictures they had of the ROTC hall getting burned, and me in the crowd. My Dad and I thought I was going to be indicted so I fled to Arizona. We were going to fight extradition if that happened. But they didn't indict me, but instead 24 other people. I see the memorial is now listed as an historic site. That's good. I hope something like this never happens again and we students were within our rights to do what we did. We were not rioting. We were assembling.
I wanted to add, isn't amazing how the abuses we see from the FBI today seem indistinguishable from abuses they were aiming at Kent Students in 1970. What a bunch of dirtbags
AND THE REASON THEY HAD SO MANY PICTURES WAS TERRY NORMAN. TERRY NORMAN ALSO FIRED HIS PISTOL AT STUDENTS WHO WERE CHASING HIM. THAT'S WHEN THE GUARD FIRED
What shocked me was the Guard commander refusing to send medical help to the people who had been shot and instead threatening to arrest her. What a terrible, callous thing to do. I remember seeing films on Kent State in high school and being shocked by the cruel things that townspeople said, like that all the students should have been shot, no compassion at all for the poor bereaved parents. It just seemed like people were crueler back then than they are today. There were many people back then who had this deep hatred and contempt for protestors and who felt personally offended just by the existence of young people with long hair and hippie clothes in general that far surpasses how people react today. For example, when those 200 construction workers in hard hats just spontaneously attacked student protestors in New York.
Those were people who believed they were Nixon's 'Silent Majority'. Nixon had prevented the peace talks from going through in 1968 before he ever got in office. Nixon's Sec. State was born in Germany and served in the US Army during WWII in Germany. His name was Henry Kissinger who interviewed NAZI's that got cleared to work for the OSS, CIA etc all over the world. FBI Co-Intel Pro sprouted from Eisenhower's Operation Dixie in 1957. Once J Edgar Hoover was dead the power vacuum left behind sucked RMN out of office. Gerald Ford was complicit in the Warren Commission JFK cover up, Nixon should have brought some other stooge in that wouldn't have competed for GOP president in '76 against Reagan.
glenn frank was an amazing human being. I've heard the audio of him pleading with the students to retreat and the tears in his voice get me every time. he couldn't stand to see not one more die. you can define heroes as you wish - I say this man qualifies. he saved the lives of thousands.
@@billanthony7896 well that just depends doesn't it? The students were ready to charge the guard they were so angry and more gathered all around them. The guard were ready to fire again and fire they would have. The effect almost certainly would have led to further violent confrontations on other campuses and probably in the streets to, which would have led to other confrontations and further deaths and once that chain had started, it would have been very hard to stop. There is no doubt Frank made a huge difference that day and saved lives both on and off that campus.
excellent interview, wasn't aware of the articles posted afterward - critisizing the guard or the money raised. just incredible. thank you so much for sharing.
I went to Youngstown State about 20 miles away and we frequently went to Kent to party. It was totally socially unacceptable to mention the shootings but one could reply if someone there mentioned them. At that time no one walked on the area where the people were shot. That is probably still the case.
If it was unacceptable to mention, why would it be acceptable to reply if someone mentioned it? I completely understand why nobody should walk where someone died.
*2:33* *sigh...* "Its one thing to be called upon to defend your country, but its quite another to be *forced to go kill innocent people* ." "And during the Vietnam War we'd killed over 3 million Vietnamese, and *most of them were civilians* ." Yes. Civilians jumped into the war along with the Vietnamese Army. This is why having an armed populace is so dangerous to an invading army (or at least one who doesn't WANT to kill civilians). But when a 14 year old boy or a 21 year old woman pickups an AK-47 and fires upon soldiers, they put themselves in the combatant's role. Combatants lose their civilian designation and whatever protection that designation might have provided them. We saw this in Iraq and Afghanistan, too. The force our coalition was up against did not wear uniforms, so who is a civilian and who is a combatant at that point. Everyone became a possible combatant, which puts an unbelievable amount of mental strain on a young man's heart and mind. Most people don't want to kill civilians. The MAJORITY of people don't want to kill civilians. You are slandering the men who gave their lives over there, by saying they were sent to kill innocent people.
This is not how the army trained me in basic training ..after looking at all the photos and videos in other web sites..never would you walk behind another soldier with loaded rifles, never do you walk without a formation, either all wear a gas mask or none, it is not optional, but it was here, why., ....who is the guy with a pistol? We are not issued or trained with one..Who is the guy in a business suit and gas mask ? He is out of uniform ? Not how things are done..this women is correct it was staged to send a message and stop protesters .. FYI I took basic in 1969 ft Dix NJ I would not be surprised if this was a special forces hit squad posing as National Guard
Those are some really good observations and questions! It didn't make sense to when they turned their back on the students and walked up the hill but then just turned around and fired. Were you guys trained to do that?
This woman downplayed the fact that some of the students were throwing rocks at the National Guardsman - probably not a good idea. It wasn’t a peaceful protest by any means. Of course are loaded rifles equal to rock throwing ? Such a tragic situation.
The old lady asked 'bout the all volunteer military: who's going to volunteer for that? The answer to that is someone stupid enough, or someone who has no other and better choice.
Don't throw rocks at men armed with rifles and you will be ok. Don't destroy other people's property, or even government property and you won't be arrested, beat, or worst. Don't be stupid, don't act stupid and you will be ok.
Don't post stupid things and people won't think you're the asshole you are, Salero 21. I assume the "21" refers to your IQ, although you probably exaggerated.
Bottom line Canterbury, Governor Rhodes and Nixon to a smaller degree instigated this tragedy to definitely make a statement to squelch American citizens from protesting our involvement in Nam and Cambodia
You are not really allowed to protest against any American war. The constitution was never ever fully implemented. Include: congress shall have no special privileges.
Outrage: A Four Hour Walk- A Forty Year Journey A seer sun loomed over the student union hoping for a cloudy reprieve. Instead, a bright, sunny, Monday dawned; anxiety partnered with apprehension, dimmed it. Nearing campus, I encounter a modern-day triceratops, lurking, while overhead, bug eyed copters thump their presence, both eying me with death’s disdain. Cautiously, I moved passed this military spectra knowing insignificance was my armor. But just for awhile. I was on a college campus now transformed into a military zone. Everywhere signs, just read between the lines groups of two only, was the order. How could this be I wondered? How can the ideal of freedom be hiding on a campus of free thinkers? Incongruent thoughts now began birthing betrayal. On tenuous legs, I penetrated this pre-war din seeing buildings with just one entrance, one exit, unchained. Uniformed, baby faced, armed robots stood guard. I pass sporadic groups of students some twos, some threes, some more. Some a lot more. I now stand beside the still smoldering ROTC building, an edifice to the prevailing insanity of an unpopular “police action” where death and disillusionment stand like blackened, political pillars of accomplishment. On the commons, against edicts posted the coalescence of groups begins. I watch as the assembly swells five hundred plus strong with an unlucky thirteen soon to be wronged. Questions were the purpose, not conflict: will school open? will we graduate? Now emblazoned egos appeared, unconcerned with questions, poisoned by power. The order given to disperse: unheeded. We have a right to assembly came another protest. Today you have no rights the egos implied girding the group with bayoneted M-1s. Now, you will disperse, or else. Behind the gathering, Taylor Hall stood like the Parthenon as the group was split left and right. Herded by guardsmen, impelled by consequence, students trudged up, over and down the acropolis while a phalanx of guardsmen took the high ground. There they waited to execute their orders, as only two options applied: obey or Leavenworth. Then came death’s three step dance: ready, aim, fire. Multitasking rounds expelled to do their carnage, four for one, but a higher power said, not today. A lethal rapport confirmed to my ears what my eyes had just seen. How interesting I thought, they’re shooting blanks, seconds later hysteria screamed, no they’re not. Later, a crier announces to the parents, your children are dead. Felled in the name of order before order knew them. Rights denied, as, again, ends justifies means, and trust bears a heavier burden. A football field away, in pools of blood they lay. Nine wounded four dead, should have shot them all someone said. An act of impunity, protected by immunity. Who would pay, too few dared say. Ah! apathy how you infect, in ways even fewer care to detect. All that is evil lies at your feet, over and over you just repeat. Forty years I’ve aged, and still the outrage. May 4, 1970 Kent State University
Makes me wonder if the University was named after James Kent. The county I was born in was named after him. Some of that Thirteen Colony carry over identity politics. The only good thing about that year seemed to be the rock'n roll.
I’m glad she mentioned the draft lottery - but left out that poor blacks would go in their stead... I’m glad she is an objective person regarding the War... yeah right...
A problem with her FBI operative hypothesis: She made it clear that the president was shielding the students from any consequences of their actions, hence why no one was around to arrest the students attempting to burn the ROTC building. Moving on from there, since there was no repercussions, I'd say it is far more likely that the same students tried again and succeeded than it is that the FBI went in to finish the job. You have to keep it in mind that these were students who in all honesty thought they were invincible up until this point, hence why they didn't leave after the shooting
My barber was on the Ohio National Guard in 1970 and he is raised in Cleveland. He didn't do the firing of the gas mask canisters or the killing or wounding those students
@@adam-ns1he . It is possible he may have been employing sarcasm, but text in RU-vid does not communicate that nuance well. Either he WAS, and therefore, shots fired too soon, or he was NOT, and in that case, my dear friend in the previous video, Timme Helzer, witnessed the event. There was real shooting, real bullets, real blood, real death.
Except they weren't protestors they had become a gang, terrorizing downtown, destroying storefronts, planning and performing the arson of the ROTC building, attacking police. If I break a downtown window while screaming George Floyd your argument won't do shit for me in court
The National Guard were in the wrong. And these were white students that were shot. Nixon lied about invading Cambodia because he was going to send many troops home and have only South Viet Nam soldiers deal with the North Viet Nam. Students were in their rights to.protest. The ROTC building was destroyed because the anger was at sending more males to war which was opposed. Buildings can be replaced...lives cannot. The War in Viet Nam was not justifiable. Nixon lied to all soldiers. They were used. After many got out they weren't welcomed back. Many had PTSD and mental problems. Many need up homeless. The Nixon administration made billions off the war. The soldiers did not. Even disenfranchised vets turned against the war. Medals were destroyed and trashed. Not every vet was proud of the War. The few conservative vets were proud of killing many people not just their enemy but civilians. My Lai for example was a massacre.
Maybe This is why University students aren't Politically active the way the were when I was in College in the Early 70s. That's the real tragedy. These students sacrificed their lives for freedom to assemble peacefully at a rally to EXPRESS IDEAS. And Supression of Information by our government is the legacy. It brings tears to my eyes and grief for those students killed and their families. It's sad
@@LinDeeSixtiesRock_LSR-Channel I think what you mean is you want more political diversity. Many on campus are still politically active, it's just they are hugely liberal. Very few conservatives on campus are willing to openly express their opinions out of fear of being outcast or attacked (verbally, but also physically). Heck, we just had Trump 2020 written in chalk, just on it's own, and immediately someone was out there destroying it. How much you want to bet a Biden 2020 would have had nothing happen to it
The Ohio national guard is so brave .. we should build a monument for their bravery. They are students specialist. And deady warrior against unarmed civilians.. the bravest in the whole world..
She is spot on ..I took basic training with national guard in 1969 and nothing I mean nothing matches the strict guidelines and regulations of safety and formation of troop movement..this was as she said at 24.50 min ...it was staged to send a message as was Waco and OKC bombing
She looses me when she goes into the spy stuff… she doesn’t seem to have a clear memory of that time but able to account the campus shooting perfectly… if she thought her phone was rapped, why did she keep using it? Go to a friends house, right ?
Love You! Jane Fonda. Thank You! for speaking for the soon to be killing fields of Cambodia. 2.000.000 dead because of war criminals Kissenger and Nixon.
I remember this day well. I was stunned and angry. The Nixon govt was just the latest in a long line of imperialists. This all started in 1861 when Linclown invaded innocents civilians; began 'total war' against civilians which continues today. Only now the yankee nation are on the sovereign soil of 175 nations worldwide. Good news; this decadent yankee nation is soon at an end.
@@robco26 you believe the same government that sends our children off to be murdered in the thousands... vietnam or iraq and afghanistan. you are a fucking sheep