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Kent State People Shootings Government Protests Students Country

Id ESLPod_0895_CN
Episode Id ESLPod 895
Episode Title Government Reactions to Protests
Title Kent State Shootings
Text

The Kent State Shootings, sometimes called the Kent State "Massacre" (an incident where many people are killed), happened at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, on May 4, 1970. Students across the country were protesting against the Vietnam War and specifically President Nixon's plans to "invade" (go into a country without permission) Cambodia.

At Kent State University, the protests began peacefully, but the crowd became angry and ended up yelling, breaking windows of some local businesses, and throwing beer bottles. The police and then the "National Guard" (an organized group of citizens who are trained and ready to fight or otherwise serve their country when needed) became involved over a four-day period as the protests "escalated" (became bigger and more serious).

On May 4, university "officials" (employees with authority) tried to cancel the students' planned protest, but about 2,000 people gathered anyway. The National Guard tried to "disperse" (make people spread out) the protestors, but they were unsuccessful and the protestors began throwing rocks. The National Guard threw tear gas at the students and then began firing at the students. In 13 seconds, 67 "rounds" (bullets) were shot, killing four students and "wounding" (causing injuries to) nine others. The shootings "raised many questions" (made people begin to ask) about whether the government has the right to disperse protestors and/or shoot citizens.

Photographs of the shootings "shocked" (surprised in a negative way) people across the United States and "prompted" (caused; led to) many other protests. The shootings have been "memorialized" (put into something else to be remembered) in songs, poems, books, plays, and other forms.

Topics Government + Law

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