Posted on 05/03/2010 6:27:24 PM PDT by jazusamo
Previously undisclosed FBI documents suggest that the Kent State antiwar protests were more meticulously planned than originally thought and that one or more gunshots may have been fired at embattled Ohio National Guardsmen before their killings of four students and woundings of at least nine others on that searing day in May 1970.
As the nation marks the 40th anniversary of the Kent State antiwar protests Tuesday, a review of hundreds of previously unpublished investigative reports sheds a new — and very different — light on the tragic episode.
The upheaval that enveloped the northeastern Ohio campus actually began three days earlier, in downtown Kent. Stirred to action by President Nixon's expansion of U.S. military operations in Cambodia, a roving mob of earnest antiwar activists, hard-core radicals, curious students and others smashed 50 bank and store windows, looted a jewelry store and hurled bricks and bottles at police.
Four officers suffered injuries, and the mayor declared a civil emergency. Only tear gas dispersed the mob.
An exhaustive review later concluded that this unrest on the streets — the worst in Kent's history — was "not an organized riot or a planned protest."
But the FBI's investigation swiftly uncovered reliable evidence that suggested otherwise. Among the strongest was a pre-dawn conversation — never before reported — between two unnamed men overheard inside a campus lounge later that night. Their discussion was witnessed by the girlfriend of a Kent State student and conveyed up the FBI chain of command 15 days later.
"We did it," one man exulted, according to the inquiry. "We got the riot started."
The second man expressed disappointment at being excluded from the riot's planning. "Wait until tomorrow night," the leader replied excitedly. "We just got the word. We're going to burn the ROTC building."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Can William Ayers account for his whereabouts on that day?
A lot of people have believed this for years.
If I recall correctly, there were people present who admitted that they heard shots coming from a direction different from that of the National Guard line.
Good question, along with a few of his brother anarchists.
Correct, there’s no doubt that the Guardsmen were in fear for there lives.
Liberalism: Illusions built on legends built on lies.
An National Guardsman wounded by gunfire???
Any dead students found with a gun in their hand????
I didn’t think so.
Neil Young is a POS, btw
So Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young owe everyone an apology?
Viet Nam was a mistake from beginning to end. What terrible choices were made. Just think - No Viet Nam, No William Ayers, No SDS, No Obama. Things would have been so different.
The story DOESN;T say that ANY of the Dead Students were the ones who fired the shot or shots. Geesh.
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Gotta get down to it
Soldiers are gunning us down
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her
And found her dead on the ground
How can you run when you know?
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.
The line, "We're finally on our own" describes the feeling of freedom and independence in college, and the line "Four dead in Ohio" refers to the four slain students at Kent State. The "Tin soldiers" are the National Guard, and many people, including Young, felt that it was President Richard Nixon's fault.
My uncle was an Ohio National Guard troop way back then waiting on stand by to be called up incase things got worse. Luckily he never had to go. Way back then this was what the guard troops said but the left made it into some sort of fable about strom troopers who opened fire on them. My uncle was an 18 yo man who was serving his country after older brother had been in Vietnam. It’s good the truth is finally coming out.
The casualties were on high ground opposite the Guard position.
Where’d you come up with that?
Back then, as I do today, I was of the opinion that anyone, of whatever ethnicity, who masks his face, and incites idiots, with a bullhorn or hurls bricks or other objects capable of serious damage, should be shot on sight.
Your comment is without thought. The gunshots directed at Guardsmen came from a campus building. There are newspaper photos taken on the day of people pointing at where they heard shots coming from.
Go, and think some more.
I live 6 miles from Kent State. It’s still a lib hell hole.
I warned my two oldest, should they feel the need to protest on my tuition dime, they better hope the National Guard get’s there before I do...
“Liberalism: Illusions built on legends built on lies.”
And little Pol Pots waiting to happen. Every damned one of them.
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