Crime News
Military order "Fire!" 1970 Kent State audio tape released
April 30, 1970 President Nixon announced to the American public "We take these actions not for the
purpose of expanding the war into Cambodia, but for the purpose of
ending the war in Vietnam, and winning the just peace we all desire." -we were changing US stadegy in Vietnam -America's youth responded with many protests, seeing it as an escillation in the war.
Kent State University had a series of events and protests that brought the Ohio National Guard on campus to quiet events...and they did. After 3 days of small and large protests things seemed quiet until May 4th - a day that we should never forget.
On the morning of May 4, 1970 200 students gathered on campus to protest and by noon the crowd grew to 1,500. The students were ordered to disperse and many did. After the chaos had subsided some members of the National Guard turned and fired on departing students headed for their classes.
67 shots were fired over 13 seconds. Four students were killed and nine injured.
After the investigation in 1975 it was proved that a verbal command was given to fire; although some still did not believe the results or whitnesses.
Today that mystery has been solved when some audio tape was released to the public.
Canfora released two versions of a 20-second clip — the original and an amplified version — in which he says a Guard officer issues the command, "Right here! Get Set! Point! Fire!"Source: chron.com
Currently the National Guard has no official statement on the matter despite urges to reopen the case.
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Comments (5)
babblingdweeb, you've convinced me you've done the work - it's authentic. Thank you for covering this important issue. Good stuff.
Babblingdweed, it just goes to show you that sooner or later, the public will find out. Keep spreading the word.
Your first sentence is a mischaracterization. Former President Nixon did not announce we are going to Vietnam on April 30, 1970; he announced a change in strategy. Presidents Kennedy and Johnson took us into Vietnam.
Thank you for pointing that out! "We were going to Vietnam" was supposed to be a longer thought that I edited out. Article corrected to reflect accuracy.
(Thank you!)
NEIL YOUNG LYRICS
"Ohio"
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 cutting 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 cutting 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.
[ www.azlyrics.com ]
Photo Kent State