KENT — 1970 · Major Tragedy
The Kent State Shootings
On 4 May 1970, on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio, the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students protesting the extension of the Vietnam War into Cambodia and the Guard's presence on campus. Twenty-eight soldiers fired about 67 rounds in 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine, one of whom was permanently paralysed. Two of the dead were simply watching from a distance between classes. The shootings sparked a nationwide strike involving millions of students. Federal charges against eight guardsmen were dismissed in 1974, and a civil settlement with the families and wounded was reached in 1979.
- Date
- 1970
- Place
- Kent State University, Ohio, USA, Kent, US
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 41.1490, -81.3430 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 30 April 1970President Nixon announced the Cambodian incursion.
- 2 May 1970National Guard troops were sent to Kent.
- 4 May 1970Guardsmen fired on protesters; four students died and nine were wounded.
- 1974Federal charges against eight guardsmen were dismissed.
- 1979A civil settlement was reached with the families and the wounded.
Sources
- Kent State University — May 4, 1970 History kent.edu ↗
- History.com — Kent State Shootings: A Timeline of the Tragedy history.com ↗
- Britannica — Kent State shooting britannica.com ↗
- Kent State University
- History.com
- Britannica
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.