KENT, Ohio — May 4, 1970 is a day that will live in infamy as the day Ohio National guardsmen opened fire on students at Kent State University during a protest, killing four young people and wounding nine others.
What You Need To Know
- Dozens gathered at Kent State University to honor victims of May 4, 1970
- The university hosted an online commemoration due to COVID-19
- Many still showed support in person
Every year, a group of people gather on campus to remember what’s known as the Kent State Massacre.
Carol Meyer has been helping to organize a silent vigil every year.
“Well, we have this candlelight march,” Meyer said. “To show our dedication to the memory of these people that are no longer with us. We stand there in half hour shifts, with candles in their memory.”
The march starts May 3, and the group stays outside on the campus, at the site of the shootings until 12:24 PM on May 4.
“That’s the moment of the shooting,” Meyer explained. “That ends the silent vigil technically.”
Since 1970, they haven’t missed a year and they haven’t let age slow them down.
“Because we are getting older, you see we have chairs now, you can sit,” Meyer said. “That’s much easier, I can’t stand for eight hours anymore.”
They also haven’t let the pandemic stop them, although they had to make some changes.
“Usually, there is a commemoration, there are keynote speakers from all over the world,” Meyer said. “We have had every powerful leftist radical thinker, writer, musician, they’ve all been here.”
The group said it will be hosting the vigil to remember the four students for as long as they live.
A May 4 augmented reality experience to learn more about the events that happened may be accessed by clicking here.
