I live in Kent now. Just want to add a fun (or not so fun) fact to this, the band Devo is from Kent and two of their founding members (Jerry casale and mark mothersbaugh) were present at the massacre and casale had a couple friends that were victims. They were inspired by the trauma to write songs about the "devolution" of the human race (hence Devo), which I think is just as fitting today sadly
Republican leader of the Ohio national guard (Gov. Rhodes) had just characterized the protestors as violent revolutionaries.
Republican president (Nixon) had been calling the protesters “violent radicals”. After the massacre he blamed the murders on the protestors themselves, and did not call for an investigation.
The protestors were killed while speaking up against the unnecessary deaths of Americans (this time in Vietnam and soon Cambodia).
And, yes, the murderers were found not guilty.
Pretty fucking familiar. Why does anybody pretend Republicans are trustworthy?
Eight of the shooters were charged with depriving the students of their civil rights, but were acquitted in a bench trial. The trial judge stated, "It is vital that state and National Guard officials not regard this decision as authorizing or approving the use of force against demonstrators, whatever the occasion of the issue involved. Such use of force is, and was, deplorable."
evandobrofo on January 26th, 2026 at 05:39 UTC »
I live in Kent now. Just want to add a fun (or not so fun) fact to this, the band Devo is from Kent and two of their founding members (Jerry casale and mark mothersbaugh) were present at the massacre and casale had a couple friends that were victims. They were inspired by the trauma to write songs about the "devolution" of the human race (hence Devo), which I think is just as fitting today sadly
ctothel on January 26th, 2026 at 05:52 UTC »
Republican leader of the Ohio national guard (Gov. Rhodes) had just characterized the protestors as violent revolutionaries.
Republican president (Nixon) had been calling the protesters “violent radicals”. After the massacre he blamed the murders on the protestors themselves, and did not call for an investigation.
The protestors were killed while speaking up against the unnecessary deaths of Americans (this time in Vietnam and soon Cambodia).
And, yes, the murderers were found not guilty.
Pretty fucking familiar. Why does anybody pretend Republicans are trustworthy?
Satchin-6688 on January 26th, 2026 at 06:09 UTC »
Eight of the shooters were charged with depriving the students of their civil rights, but were acquitted in a bench trial. The trial judge stated, "It is vital that state and National Guard officials not regard this decision as authorizing or approving the use of force against demonstrators, whatever the occasion of the issue involved. Such use of force is, and was, deplorable."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
Thanks for bringing up this subject.