Tragedy at Kent State
By Patrick Mondout
On May 4th, 1970, U.S. National Guardsmen opened fire on students demonstrating against the war in Southeast Asia at Kent State University in Ohio. The National Guard had been sent in to prevent riots and regain control of the campus but began shooting after some of the students began throwing rocks. More than 60 shots were fired and when the dust had settled four students were dead and nine wounded.
John Paul Filo's photo of a young woman kneeling over the body of a student killed at Kent State appeared on front pages around the nation on May 5, 1970. Seeing American troops firing on American students was shocking and led many otherwise patriotic citizens to rethink their views on the war.
The killings at Kent State were followed shortly after by the murders of two black students at Jackson State in Jackson, Mississippi. Although clashes between war protestors and the police/military had been escalating in the past year, the nation was nonetheless shocked by the senseless killings.
It should be noted that many of the protesters - including the woman kneeling above the bleeding body of one of the dead students - were not students at all. They were a hodge-podge of leftists, anti-war activists, former students, and others who were reacting to the recent decision to send U.S. troops to Cambodia.
In fact, the woman in the photograph was actually 14-year-old runaway Mary Ann Vecchio! Her father in Florida was stunned to see her on the front cover on Newsweek. She was tracked down by reporters at a hippie colony in Indianapolis a few weeks later and sent home.
In the end, the killings accomplished what many in the antiwar movement were demanding: The war was brought back home and America would no longer look at its involvement in Southeast Asia with any complacency.
Where are they now?
The administration at Kent State - to their credit - has not ignored history and has tried to learn whatever lessons could be learned from that tragic event. They have dedicated a Memorial Room in their library containing materials related to this event. In addition, the University has established an academic program designed to help students and others employ peaceful conflict resolution to resolve disputes. To learn more about Kent State's activities regarding the events of May 4th, visit their web site.
The girl in the photograph was last seen at the 25th Anniversary event at Emerson College in Boston. There she met the photographer who took her picture for the first time and answered reporters questions. Her name is now May Ann Vecchio Gillum and she is a cashier at a casino in Las Vegas where she is living with her long-time husband and three kids.
http://www.super70s.com/Super70s/News/1970/May/4-Kent_State.asp
