-
Rally's Began
Around noon students gathered around the Victory Bell to begin the rally. Blacks also held a rally against the war. People began hearing about a seperate rally that was planned for the forth of May. That night the students began the rally in the streets. The students blockaded the roads, and they broke windows on their way. The crowd was driven back to campus with tear gas and knight sticks. -
Period: to
Kent State Shootings, May 1- May 3 1970, Vietnam War
-
Second Day of Rally
This morning: Students assisted with downtown clean-up. Rumors of radical activities was widespread, and doubt increased. A dusk to dawn curfew was placed, and students were confined to their dorms. The Mayor informed the National Guard of the situation.
Shortly after 8:00, another rally began on campus, with a few people carrying anti-war slogans. Large numbers of people joined the march, and now they numbered 2,000. -
2nd Day, Night
Police had given up trying to stop the march, and fire men had to retreat because some of the crown attaced them and slashed their hoses. The students returned to find the ROTC building ablaze on both sides, within minutes the whole building was up in flames. The students watched that night as the building burned to the ground.
Armed with bayonets and tear gas, the guard pursued the crowd into the dormatories. Some stones were thrown and at least one student was bayonetted. -
3rd Day of Rally
Today was a relatively quiet day. By now the campus was fully occupied by National Guard troops. The feeling of the time was mutual hostility. The Governer made a speech that hightened the resentment towards the students that the guards had. -
3rd Day Riot
A guard promised the 9:00 curfew would be lifted, and students began to go to the campus. The guard then announced that the curfew would go into effect immediatly, and more tear gas was thrown, sending students into the safety of the dorms. -
Last Day of Rally, Shootings Begin
The guards used more tear gas to disperse the students into a wider area. The guards gathered at the crest of the hill, and stayed like this for ten minutes as the tear gas canisters were thrown back and forth. The two groups also threw stones at each other. -
Shot
On the practice feild, Troop G was preparing to fire into the crowd. The Troop knelt down and aimed their weapons at the students. The students yelled at the guards to say that they shouldn't be there anymore. The Troop began to leave, but they turned 180 degrees and began firing into the crowd. -
Last Day of Rally, Shootings
At 11:00 in the morning, about 200 students gathered in the commons for an anti-war rally. As noon approached, the crowds numbers grew to 1,500 people. 116 men, equipped with loaded M-1 rifles and tear gas formed a skirmish line towards the students. As tear gas was thrown, a straggler was clubbed when the people tried to escape up Blanket Hill away from the guardsmen. Students began to lob the tear gas canisters back at the guards, only one made contact though. -
Hospital
3 People died in the hospital, and a guardsmen was admitted.
