Sharing Stories of Tragedy: Mapping Narratives of the Kent State Shooting

On May 4th, 1970, in Kent, Ohio, the Ohio National Guard shot student protesters at Kent State University, killing four and wounding nine. It was a turning point in the history of the Vietnam War and underscored the importance of freedom of speech and the right to protest. Even 50 years later, debates continue regarding exactly what happened and who was to blame, as a divide remains between those who feel the shooting was unwarranted and others who think the protesters brought the violence onto themselves. Particularly in northeast Ohio, encouraging engagement with varied viewpoints is essential to promoting reconciliation.