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Commemorating Moment Frozen in Time

Hundreds gather for 55th commemoration of events of May 4, 1970

Hundreds of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members gathered to pay their respects and to remember.

A week of steady downpours soaked the historic field where students and Ohio National Guardsmen had faced off during an anti-war protest on May 4, 1970, that eventually led to soldiers opening fire, killing four students and wounding nine others. Still, more than 700 people gathered at the site and participated in the annual commemoration.

Speakers included Julian Grimes, president of Black of United Students (BUS), Sophia Swengle, president of the May 4 Task Force, Chic Canfora, Ph.D., survivor of May 4, 1970, and Todd Diacon, president.

Music preceded the commemoration remembering those killed – Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder – and those wounded – Alan Canfora, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, Dean Kahler, Joseph Lewis, Donald Mackenzie, James Russell, Robert Stamps and Douglas Wrentmore – on May 4, 1970.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµannual commemoration marked the end of four days of activities, including a presentation from Associate Professor of Geography Jennifer Mapes, Ph.D., as part of the Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series and Luncheon on May 2  and the annual candlelight vigil on May 3.

For more information on the events of May 4, 1970, visit www.kent.edu/may4.

View a of the May 4, 1970, commemoration. 

POSTED: Sunday, May 4, 2025 09:57 AM
Updated: Sunday, May 4, 2025 03:26 PM