The Kent State Shootings: Dealing With Dissent

[geir44]

US media are lame.

[slayerrocks2]

Great piece of work for one so young. Well done, and I hope we don't see the like of this again.

[spacefrenzy]

This 10min documentary is a pretty good work for an 8th grader

[smithdsmit]

I believe that the students were shot on purpose to try to stop all anti war protest.scare people into submission.I dont feel it was accident at all.who ever fired the pistol was following orders.the pistol was fired in hopes to set off a chain reaction of gun fire.when other gaurdsmen heard gun fire.they reacted.Our government did not like people protesting war.protesters were to making an inpact.they wanted it stopped. now we just dont report on wars.people are left in about wars

[MrManic52001]

Please, this is stupid!!!!! You cant burn, riot, and assember ILLEGALLY and not expect to get a beat down or shot. These stupid people got violent and got put down, easy good to go. If I was in charge of soldiers that day and an angry mob came at my men I would have given that order with out question. YOU THREATEND a guard unit with violence, darwin awards to all those who were killed and wounded.

[TheJer1963]

There is no proof that an officer fired his .45 into the air. We may never know what started this. I went there with a friend yesterday for the first time. I have lived only 15 minutes from Kent State but just never stopped by before.

I'm glad I did. We rang the victory bell 4 times in memory of the fallen students. I pray that nothing like this ever has to happpen again. I was 6 years old on that date.

[funnyproductions456]

fucking hippies

[luxaurum]

Very nice, very detailed coverage....one factor that lead to the escalation is that from Day 2 on several people joined in who weren't really antiwar protesters at all...just troublemakers who wanted to riot and escalated things way out of hand...passions and tempers flared on both sides...yes it had the end effect of Nixon backing off, but at a terrible cost...and one that we can never forget...

[was1865]

why didn't they use tear gas?

[smithdsmit]

Maybe they did it on purpose to help slow or stop all war protest.worked pretty good.you never hear of any protest nowadays

[geargemartin]

a surprisingly well balanced, unbiased report.

[BLong114]

Apparently this idiot seems to think that burning down a building and trashing others, along with throwing rocks at state police and national guardsmen as they harass them is a peaceful protest and supported by the constitution. FAIL!!!!!!!!!! The troopers weren't as responsible as it appears, the students need to take most of the blame.

[BLong114]

I think they deserved it, they burned a building and threw rocks at the gaurds (along with the tear gas that the guards fired). An inoccent person could have been killed in the fire, if anything the students acted wrong not the guards. Not to mention that they outnumbered the guardsman, and that they were given plenty of time to disperse.

[HeartDesireSoul]

Thank you for sharing this video! It gives a sense of reality of how blessed we are.

[Megaz0]

The guards only fired because of that one guard with the hand gun fired..now when something like this happens..in this kind of situation...and you are a guard who had no knowledge of where that gun shot really came from..that guard will turn and shoot at the crowd..and so of course the others will do so to its only natural in this kind of situation...this all could have been avoided if that First man didn't fire...I feel so sorry for those 4 unlucky people..and for the others who had been shoot.

[celsis01]

Some of you guys should be locked up! You are total lunatics! You really need medication towelheadkiller09!

[sukatlife41]

@celsis01 I totally agree.

[amzuel420]

I was 10 miles from Kent State when that happened. I am also a veteran. My opinion?...... Those national guardsmen should have been charged with murder and treason and been given life sentences for raising arms against the very citizens and constitution they swore to protect. That was no better than China running over it's own people with tanks....BTW...WE eradicated the problem of THEM.....THEY are all room temperature now.

[SMGleader]

wait...they only killed 4 ppl?

[ubersunshine93]

They weren't peaceful, they were violent protests. But, I give you an A for the effort put into this.

[sacarius1]

a peacefull protest? you are an idiot.

[yammyspeed13]

"Peaceful protest" HAHAHAHA!!!

[yammyspeed13]

Where's all the war protesters now????

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

A sad day, but the students burned a building, damaged property, rioted and more.

If they did that to my property, I would have had a legal right to shoot and kill.

And I would have done so.

Do not blame the National Guard.

Blame the students.

They started it all.

George Vreeland Hill

[NYCBlonde]

@GeorgeVreelandHill No one knows who burned down the ROTC building. And what kind of riot are you talking about? They walked around the campus yelling at the Guard. That doesn't give the Guard the right to execute them. You're a lunatic. A dangerous, unAmerican lunatic. Stay away from me and mine.

[ometec]

@GeorgeVreelandHill Who burned a building, and when?

You're playing loose with facts and misinformation.

Nothing justified this use of lethal force.

[robertplantisgod1234]

@GeorgeVreelandHill if you actually knew what happened on those few days, im sure u would change ur mind

[j90h]

@GeorgeVreelandHill wow youre a sick stupid meat head. first of all it was a very sad day indeed. and yes the students damaged buildings. but there is no way to shoot some unarmed students at the campus. NO WAY. because the students didn't form a death threat.

And there is no IF they did this, IF they did that.

Sorry, but you are really brainwashed by the media.

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

A sad day, but the students burned a building, damaged property, rioted and more.

If they did that to my property, I would have had a legal right to shoot and kill.

And I would have done so.

Do not blame the National Guard.

Blame the students.

They started it all.

George Vreeland Hill

[soccom8341576]

@GeorgeVreelandHill

Not everyone did that. The shooting at students going to classes is wrong. There should never have been firearms carried that day, nor pointed at students.

[Valseuses]

At 1:46....Nixon "...invaded Cambodia on April 31st."?????

TImes have changed.

[pewsterbaby]

at 8:04 you say,"Whether fear of some other psychological factor caused the guards to shoot..." Sure, I'll tell ya what quote-unquote psychological factor it was. It was the "psychological factor" of "I'm a loser national guard g.i. joe wannabe & I wanna fire my new shiny rifle at some smart assed college kids". THERE'S yer flipping "psychological factor". Maybe when you become an adult you'll better understand blue collar apollonian crewcut males despise dionysian long haired college students.

[TheCashistrash]

The military is mostly filled with bloodthirsty bastards that are trained to kill not police. The military has no biz patrolling civilians. That governer of ohio should have been tried and convicted of mass murder along with those soilders who fired at the students. Sadly history repeats itself we already have national guards patrolling our streets again in chicago and new york. The Banks and crooked politicians know we are on to them why you think the guard is out.

[ometec]

@TheCashistrash "The military is mostly filled with..."

NO, don't be a stereotypist.

the military is composed of a pretty fair representation of average America.

[MrManic52001]

@TheCashistrash your ignorant and have no idea of what the military is or who is in it. BOTH parties were wrong, you can not riot and burn down buildings and expect to get away with it chanting we can protest how we want. You can not fire into crowds with live ammuniton either. Also it takes a fucking idiot to not realize a 1lb rock will KILL you if it hits you in the head!!!! throwing rocks is deadly force, ever heard of a stoneing they still do it in IRAN.

[nmsulefty]

@TheCashistrash True, The army today is not much better, just a bunch of losers. Commit war crimes but uncle george w made sure to run around the world trying to get the usa expempt from the jurisdiction of the world court. That shows how criminal the usa is. But the day of reckoning will come soon

[TheCashistrash]

The military is mostly filled with bloodthirsty bastards that are trained to kill not police. The military has no biz patrolling civilians. That governer of ohio should have been tried and convicted of mass murder along with those soilders who fired at the students. Sadly history repeats itself we already have national guards patrolling our streets again in chicago and new york. The Banks and crooked politicians know we are on to them why you think the guard is out.

[ELSOL102]

Sandi Shroader was on her way to class and was killed? This was terrible.

[MrsKReeves]

This documentary is awesome! :) you did a good job!

[MrsKReeves]

This documentary is awesome! :) you did a good job!

[GM1258]

Some say the victims of Kent State died in vain.

I think not.

The massacre at Kent State brought an immediate end to

all the hype & propaganda they were trying to shove

down our throats at the time.

The war became a "no sale" item after that.

In a very real sense the victims & survivors

had a major role in ending the Vietnam war.

Its just ashame things had to reach such a

point to accomplish that end...

[GM1258]

Some say the victims of Kent State died in vain.

I think not.

The massacre at Kent State brought an immediate end to

all the hype & propaganda they were trying to shove

down our throats at the time.

The war became a "no sale" item after that.

In a very real sense the victims & survivors

had a major role in ending the Vietnam war.

Its just ashame things had to reach such a

point to accomplish that end...

[GM1258]

Some say the victims of Kent State died in vain.

I think not.

The massacre at Kent State brought an immediate end to

all the hype & propaganda they were trying to shove

down our throats at the time.

The war became a "no sale" item after that.

In a very real sense the victims & survivors

had a major role in ending the Vietnam war.

Its just ashame things had to reach such a

point to accomplish that end...

[GM1258]

Some say the victims of Kent State died in vain.

I think not.

The massacre at Kent State brought an immediate end to

all the hype & propaganda they were trying to shove

down our throats at the time.

The war became a "no sale" item after that.

In a very real sense the victims & survivors

had a major role in ending the Vietnam war.

Its just ashame things had to reach such a

point to accomplish that end...

[mamawolfsoul]

the voice is very irritating when listening.i remember this well.

[wovokanarchy]

I don't see the difference between the people of Iraq and the 4 students at Kent? Do you?

[magic77ish]

will someone please shoot towelheadkiller09 - we Americans don't need his brand of stupidity polluting our gene pool. towelheadkiller09 - you're either with us or against us. stupid prick.

[ILuvUMan7]

US Constitution, just freedom of speech and dissent (First Amendment)? How about the right of we the people to bear arms (Second Amendment)? I have a STRONG suspicion that if the students had been armed, the National Gaurd would have NEVER fired. They would have known bullets would have been coming back at them.

[sweettina2]

And we say to the new world order today, "YOU CANT KILL US ALL!"

[sweettina2]

This almost put our country in revolution, it was a slaughter! Look up the facts.

[locksmithite]

You have it wrong. It was not an "abuse of power". The students burned down the ROTC building and the national guard was called to secure the area and get the mayhem under control. Meanwhile, the guards were being pelted by rocks, bricks, bottles, and other debris with no protective gear. They meant to shoot over their heads to scare them. That's why only 4 were killed. I know because my former neighbor was one of the guards.

[NYCBlonde]

@locksmithite You're wrong, No one knows who burned down the ROTC building. You and your ilk really need to watch the film footage. No protective gear? They all had one helmets and flak jackets. LOOK AT THE FOOTAGE. The Guard was never, ever in any danger. And they shot to kill--check out the Filo photo where the Guardsman is taking dead aim. Your neighbor was exaggerating because he was scared and fired without cause, and was then ashamed.

[poo2u2]

incredible documentary.

[towelheadkiller09]

The soliders were in danger. let me have a few friends throw shit at the left wing hippie who made this vid, and see if his life is in danger. I wish the gaurd killed more of them. They WERE warned. They got what they diserved

[EtherealVortex]

@towelheadkiller09 Were warned for what? Protesting? You blind sheep. One day it could be your daughter who is shot down; someone who has her whole life ahead of her.

[blunightofdarkness]

not so, my children won't be idiots wander around troops with loaded guns. Stupid people get what they deserve, as soon as those troops popped up you get the hell as far away as possible.

[wovokanarchy]

This event pretty much killed the anti-war movement and protests in America. So it worked.

[Valseuses]

@wovokanarchy

"This event pretty much killed the anti-war movement... "

Sure it did. Just as the killings in Mississippi and Alabama and Birmingham stopped the Civil Rights Movement.

Defending the killing of unarmed US citizens using their First Amendment Rights are you?

Aye, you're made of sterner stuff than I!

Moron.

[smithdsmit]

@wovokanarchy im sure that was their intent. the mission that day.i believe was for some students to die.and scare other would be protesters around the country into not speaking out against a unpopular war.now our government just scensors media. doesnt report o wars. out of sight out of mind. there is a reason we know more about the contents of paris hiltons purse then we do about iraq or afhganistan

[beowulven]

Was there not anyone available other than this mush-mouthed faggot to read this text?

[sukatlife41]

this "mush-mouthed faghot" was 12 when he made this documentary

[beowulven]

Wow, that's a terrible thing to call a 12 year old. Shame on you!

[ometec]

@beowulven Was there no parent available to prevent you from becoming a foul mouthed moron?

[kekisme]

very good narration.

[JessJoyCollins]

your fingers through in a metal sculpture in front of Taylor Hall (the building in this video). I am more sad that my generation is so sedated. Students would never protest here again. Not only in fear of retaliation, but because nobody gives a shit about anything like they did back then. This made me cry.

[smithdsmit]

@JessJoyCollins the reason kids dont care today as they did back then is.We had free press back then.everyday the vietnam war was reported on.now we are left in the dark.we never hear about the wars.the day we supposedly started pulling out of Iraq.the press barely mentioned it.they were too busy reporting on what was found in paris hiltons purse.Do you think thats what reporters wanted to report about?they are not allowed to report any real news anymore.just fluff stories to keep us in the dark

[JessJoyCollins]

I am sitting in a computer lab in Taylor Hall at Kent State University. This is my campus. I sometimes over look the field of the commons and think about this event. There are bullet holes that you can stick

[SirFelix377]

great video, thank you

[gbriker]

this is a great video. i competed this year, and went to nationals, but we didn't win anything.... check out my video though its on my channel. are you competing for 2010?

[david228martin]

Just goes to show you can't push against the state too hard 'cos there's always an iron fist...same here in London look at those poor buggers killed and hurt by the police at the G20...America and UK like to pretend they're the great democracies...yeh as long as you don't upset the rich and powerful...

[checkurself]

great documentary! thank you so much. I was 7 months old when this happened. I cannot believe this happened in my country. It makes me sad. It's chilling to think this could happen at all.

[ashleystokes96]

amazing documentary! I am doing NHD this year, also. Where did you get your videos?

[sukatlife41]

various places, like the national archives and some stock footage vendors. the people who own the rights to the videos are mostly nbc and other news organizations.

[ashleystokes96]

Thanks. Do you have to write in to the organizations and ask for permission or can you just use them because of "fair use"?

[ashleystokes96]

So did you write in to the news organizatons and ask permission? And do you have to ask the national archives for permission? I want to use some footage from Pearl Harbor on my documentary for nationals...plus the judges said i didn't have enough primary sources

[towelheadkiller09]

You have to approve my comment? I thought you were all about freedom of speech.

[BW248]

so your saying that they should kill ppl to make them obey every comman? you more of a "commie" then the person who made this vid..granted freedom of speech is somthing that we all should have but you should also think of what ya say befor you look more uneducated then you are exsposing yourself to be

[patriotsfan1299]

wow he makes the national guard and army look bad thats why you don't mess with the army but they had no right to shoot

[buggylrp]

i feel sad when i saw this , it should never happend you Amrecians what were you thinking

[ometec]

@buggylrp We were thinking we were freeer than you are... wherever you're from you nonAnerican.

[frankenshank]

This is what happens to real dissent.

so much for free speech eh?

F A S C I S M..... wake up and smell it!

[nationalhistoryday09]

great job on your documentary. im competing in nhd this year for the actions and legacies theme and i was wondering about how long it took you to make your documentary?

[sukatlife41]

a long time...

i started in the summer and kept working on it till the national competition in June.

i put at least 100 hours into this project.

[towelheadkiller09]

FUCK YOU COMMIE

[Bluewidowr1]

@towelheadkiller09 Really, this is your best comeback? I suppose we couldn't expect more from some one whose user name is that of a racist bigot.

[ometec]

@sukatlife41 It shows. Good work!

Have you considered updating it now, 10 years later?

[Damian609]

Good job! This was one of the most horrifying events in history. Thanks for reaching back and bringing forth a reality that so few your age know about.

[P4KKM4N]

nice dude im doing it for my history project