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Thanks very much for covering the story. I am a Kent State alumni so am very familiar with it. To add insult to injury, the artist hired to design the memorial scammed the university so there is really only a small walkway and a sign on the top of the Commons. As well as the 4 spots in the parking lots outlined by lights to honor the places the victims fell. Notably, as far as I learned, none of the victims were even attending the protest, just walking past and got hit.

I'm Australian ex-military. When I first joined and completed bootcamp, while I was waiting for my training to begin, i worked with the promotion examination warrant officer. He had us go to the promax camp as protesters (amongst other things like 'drunken idiots' or even 'infiltrators' which is a hilarious story in it's own right). Most of the Sargent promax course understood that we were just following orders and nothing we said were our true feelings, we were only acting. That however doesn't stop psycho's from being a psycho. One of these idiots trying to make Sargent pushed one of us into razor wire after breaking the guys arm. Needless to say, he was sent back to his unit, he wasn't going to be promoted. This just goes to show that when you give authority to the wrong person, tradgedy will follow. This didn't kill my friend, but it pushed his course starting date back (for his recovery) and he'd no longer be studying with the same folks he went through bootcamp with. We weren't even really protesting properly, it was just meant to be a simulation. Which was super obvious to anyone paying attention. Apparently, one of them didn't get the memo...

My grandma was an old fashioned lady. She never raised her voice or cussed etc. My Dad said the only time he ever heard her yell at his Dad was the day Kent State occurred and his Dad made some comment about the dirty hippies deserving it or something and that was the day my refined lady like grandma said some things to him that weren't very lady like at all. Get em grandma!

The part that is missing is that no crimincal conviction had been obtained against any of the shooters.

In the mid 70's I was a USMC MP and during riot control training one thing that was stressed was NEVER issue live ammo indiscriminately. Live ammo was present, in the hands (well cartridge belts) of NCOs and could, if needed, be distributed in seconds. BUT never just handed to everyone.

I graduated high school in 1987, and this was just a single photo with a bare paragraph in our history book. Thank you for always highlighting the victims in your videos!

In 1974 I was a high school student in Texas, and a teacher noticed I was reading a book about the Kent State shooting. His unsolicited opinion was that the students got what they deserved for being un-American. His opinion wasn’t unusual among older people, but he was a fairly young guy around 30, he was one of the ‘cool’ teachers. It really surprised me.

I grew up not far from Kent and was 11 years old, with two brothers in other state universities in May 1970. Our dinner table was always a place of friendly debate but during those times it was horrible. My frightened father railed against protesters while my brothers defending their rights. It went on what seemed like forever. My parents desperately wanted my brothers to just keep their heads down and get their educations. Two of my brothers were rejected from the draft(terrible vision) and the third “got a high number” and was unlikely to be called up but the tension around the draft clouded my childhood. Those times still echo in our lives. Kent State still has a faint memory of tragedy associated with it. Did you know that still in the US a male student has to be registered for the draft to apply for government-backed college loans?

History like these should never be forgotten or swepped under the rug like some people or our politicians would like to see gone.

2:20 - Chapter 1 - Background 5:00 - Chapter 2 - Rising tensions 8:05 - Chapter 3 - The massacre 13:40 - Chapter 4 - Why 15:30 - Chapter 5 - Victims of the massacre 17:15 - Chapter 6 - Aftermath

I was still in high school on May 4, 1970, but later became a professor at Kent State, where I got to know many people who had been there in 1970 and were deeply affected by it. I was at the university for 33 years and so experienced 33 days of remembrance on the anniversaries of the massacre. I'm retired now but still feel melancholic every May 4.

In 1987, I graduated high school and told my mom I was considering joining the National Guard. She reacted with shock, not to the idea of me joining the military, but specifically to the idea I would join the National Guard. I explained that they were the branch of the military that responded to natural disasters and rescued people, and she replied that they were also the branch that shot Americans. I did not know about Kent State at the time, but in hindsight, Kent State clearly made a lasting impression on my Silent Generation mother, born 1933.

I completed my undergrad degree at Kent State. There is a steel sculpture on the south side of Taylor Hall (now the May 4th Visitors Center) that has several bullet holes still visible in it.

2 of the 4 who were killed had nothing to do with the protests. One was even an ROTC cadet. And no protestor was within like 70-80 yards of the Guardsmen. So “we feared for our lives” is such BS.

Thank you for this video. I was 10 when this happened and though I heard about it on the news, I didn't understand it. My concerns were more immediate. My father was a professor at the University of Illinois where there were also protests and I know that my parents were very worried that something similar might happen there. I remember going to campus and seeing windows boarded up that had been broken during a night of protests. I was so worried for my father's safety on campus and also about the future. And I think because of that, I never wanted to learn more about the incident later on when I got older. Honestly, when I was 10, I never thought I'd live to be 40 because of the state of the world and now I'm in my 60s. Time doesn't heal the wounds, but it can bring us to a point where we can finally explore them. and it's important we don't forget them.

I have an older friend was there that day. He was a KS student, & involved in many anti-war protests. He still goes to an annual gathering for people who were there. It changed his life, but he is still a wonderful, caring man, a talented performer/director, and a strong voice against war. Thank you, Bobby for being a wonderful human

Professor Glenn Frank, a true inspiration. He cared so much for his students.

It's quite humourous that they considered these protests anti-american even knowing America is built on the grounds of protest

And here we go again..

Speaking of national gaurdsman. You should check out the Little Rock incident. They activated the 101st AB division to protect the students because the National Gaurd werent doing their jobs.

I looked up the photos of Jeffrey Miller which are still up all over the place. As an American I never knew anything about this shooting, and seeing Miller with blood literally pooling down from his neck and head was just gruesome. It was very powerful indeed for the anti war movement and RIP to those who died so senselessly.

I was a high school freshman in the Cleveland, Ohio area when this happened. I’ll never forget the photo of Maryann kneeling by Jeffrey’s body

I went there in 2021, just driving home to Wisconsin from the East Coast. I was shocked at how just ordinary the place is, that something of that nature happened there at all. They did a great job at memorializing the spots where the people died. Also crazy that members of the Pretenders and Divo were in the crowd.

Kent State alum here. Thank you for covering this story with so much grace and accuracy. On campus Taylor Hall has been made into a memorial museum to educate about the shooting and honor the victims. Every May 4th students have no classes in order to remember the victims as well, and there are several sites on campus for memorials in addition to the museum. Great to see this story covered!

"Following order" is so comedic to me, especially with how the Nuremberg Trials were still fresh on the American Psyche, how is that a good defense in any case?

The guard's excuses sound eerily similar to what rogue police say to justify killing civilians. Some version of "i feared for my life"...

Thank you very much for this vital piece of history. I was a college student at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio on 04 May 1970. That day left a huge scar on my soul and thousands of other students. For weeks, campuses demonstrated in the streets protesting the war. I was one of them. You did a very good job of what you covered, however, there is much more to the story. Please cover the Vietnam student protests on a nationwide basis from at least 1968 through 1973. I realize that is a lot to ask and may take several videos. These protests literally tore this nation apart. Their story deserves to be heard. Like I said, I was one of the protestors. On our campus on 03 May 1970, we experienced the largest protest I had ever seen there. At 1:30am, the protests turned into a riot, smashing windows, looting, etc. Civil Disobedience is one thing and legal but rioting and looting is quite another. I wanted no part of that so I went home. It was absolutely awful the way the Vets were treated. Their country called (drafted them) and they went to war only to be spit on and called "Baby Killers" when they came home. Terrible! Please give my request serious thought and keep up your good work.

I think one of my favorite episodes so far. Not for the subject matter but the writing and delivery were awesome. Thank you as usual mr. Whistler and team!

Any profession where you get handed a gun will attract some number of people who are way too excited for the opportunity to use it.

My family has been in Kent for years. Born and raised there then went to Kent State for college. My grandma was working at the school in 1970, her and all of my older relatives say it was the wildest scenes they’ve ever seen during those few days before and during the shooting. I was attending KSU in 2020 during the 50th anniversary, there was to be a much bigger memorial event but the Vid cancelled those plans.

This was really well produced. And considerate of the victims. Thanks for telling the story.

I could hear the song “Ohio” by CSN&Y the whole time I watched this. Well done Simon. I like your videos on serious subjects. You handle them thoughtfully.

Ahoy, Thanks for the sensitive video. I am a KSU alumni from the 1980s. I was honored to meet several of the wounded students as well as the parents of one of the murdered students at the May 4th remembrence days. I was also honored to participate in ringing the victory bell. It is sad to think that a few beggar's bullets were met with real ones. It was also sad to see that only 15 years later many of the young students wondered what all the fuss was about even though every student had to have a unit on the massacre as a freshman. I know this event was important so thank you again. daveyb

This is a level of analysis I've never seen before. Brings back memories from early in high school. Several thoughts: 1. A standard Garand clip holds 8 rounds, instead of the 6 mentioned about 11;30. If the first Guardsman to fire emptied his rifle in the course of the 13 seconds of firing, that doesn't sound like controlled fire. It was panic. A Garand's recoil is substantial (personal experience), so accurate rapid fire is challenging. 2. I later read an article about how poorly trained the Ohio National Guard was, particularly with respect to marksmanship. They had been called in during a riot, and something possessed the unit holding one particular stretch of city street to shoot out the streetlights. The noise from the ensuing fullisade attracted a nearby unit, who thought something major had broken out. It also starting raining 30 caliber projectiles on nearby blocks. To what end? 3. Affixing bayonets for crowd control? Really? Are they going to start bayonetting protesters? Maybe they thought it gave an intimidating "look", but was more likely to inflame tensions.

I attend kent state, ive grown up in the area, ive met several people who were there and a few that knew one or a few of the victims, the stains this massacre has on the ne ohio are often understated im glad to see that more can learn of it because few care why we (at ksu) get off that day and its so nationally important

Simon, plz cover The Bonus March. WWI vets asking for their bonuses when the depression hit.

I knew about this incident, only having forgotten some details over the years, and I must say that while short, this Video covered the subject very well, and from interesting perspectives. Of course, with Simon, you always know that: 1- A Sensitive Topic will be handled with the proper sensibility and utmost care. 2- The Victims will be the center of attention, will be treated as human beings and shown the respect and dignity they deserve, which is so often lacking in Media. In the Shadows, as a Channel, always has a very high production value and overall feels more polished than most of Simon's other Channels. Everything is always on point, and the choice of Subjects to cover is impeccable! I'd love it if it moved to a longer Format to allow for a more in-depth coverage of the Topics. I know how this precise Format, with a length of 20 minutes or under, appeals to a wider audience and allows for a unique style, so I guess that I'd wish Simon would either alternate between the current Video Length and a longer Format, or a more pragmatic idea would be to launch yet another Channel which would cover the same Type of Content but in its own, longer Format and similar Style!

I'll never forget that day, ever, no justification, period!!!🙏😢❣️

"Lest We Forget", the mantra we use in Canada to remind us that if we don't continue to talk about what caused ww1, but many of us use to remember instances like this one and many others. Quite often you can overhear people talking about something that was an atrocity and at least one will say "lest we forget". Well atleast in British Columbia you can.

JFK: "We will not go to war in Vietnam." LBJ: "My wife owns the company that makes helicopters for U.S. military(Bell Helicopters), so we're going to war in Vietnam, and we're going to be hevily relying on helicopters. This decision was not influenced by my own personal gain at all."

As an American with high school/college aged kids, this is a shameful event that is truly difficult to think about. I couldn't imagine the pain of those parents. Every time I hear the Crosby Stills Nash & Young song Ohio, even though I love the song, the event it remembers makes me pretty somber

While in the Army, they drilled into our skulls the importance of this avoidable tragedy. If you're deployed to a national disaster, etc, your duty is to Protect the Citizens, not violate their rights you swore to protect and certainly not to harm them! They are why you exist as Soldiers to begin with. Thank you for making this video, we as a country cannot forget our history, no matter how horrific and triggering the facts are. Its our duty as Americans to prevent the horrors of history from repeating itself.

I was in high school in Australia this happened, haven't forgotten it. For me it's a touchstone in my life, same as john Lennon's murder both forever etched in my memory.

I am a Kent State graduate (class of '99). You can't be a KSU student and not get a thorough education on the massacre. Every year the campus still holds a May 4th memorial.

This is poignant given all the current protests. Never in my life did I think someone would say some of this with a straight face. Let alone really shutting down student groups. My favorite line currently is "we have a right to exist, now let me tell you why those 'bad' people dont deserve to exist"

Tricky Dicky lied & was indifferent... I am shocked!

Man, it was sounding so much like Simon was going to mention the Jackson State massacre in the "Aftermath" section... but then he didn't.

A video on all the horrible things Henry Kissinger has done is long overdue, the fact that that evil little man still lives wealthy and comfortable is proof that karma doesn't exist.

My grandfather was a biology professor at Kent State during the riots. The way he told it until he died was that he walked through the riot and taught lecture to an empty classroom like nothing was happening at all. He was a highly decorated WWII veteran but he never said what his metals for valor were for.

My dad talking about the Kent State massacre is the first time I remember him crying. It's a lesson I always take time to discuss with my students.

I'm so sick of people saying "emotions were heightened on both sides". If your response to getting heckled by protestors is to employ lethal violence, you shouldn't be a fucking LEO. Besides, if I beat someone within an inch of their life or shot them just for insulting me, I would promptly be charged with aggravated assault. Why should that be different for law enforcement? Also, I don't believe for a second that any of those "rumors" about building destruction were as severe as were claimed. I would bet significant money on the police making up the worst bits whole cloth as an excuse to be violent.

Hugely respectful look at this horrific episode of American history.

I was in 11th grade, dreaming of college, filling out financial aid applications when this happened. My Mom sat down with me and gave me a talk about me NOT attending any college protests. She was afraid I could get wounded or killed. Many of my friends who got into college have the same talk with their parents....after what happened at Kent State, they were afraid for us.

At times live ammo is issued to National Guard ! I am a Guardsman Retired ! Please do not throw rocks at me !

"Unamerican" is the highest form of praise

I'm curious about punishment for the soldiers but being a veteran myself I know all too well how these things are kept strictly in house.

I grew up about an hour away from Kent State, it’s still very much in the local consciousness. Alan Canfora, one of the nine injured, came back as a professor and taught about it every spring (he passed almost three years ago). Friends who went and took the special seminar said it was surreal and one of the most influential talks they’d ever been given

My dad had told me about this massacre, and it's so scary to know it even happened close to where I live all those years ago. I'm 34 so it happened well before I was born but it's just so scary that it even happened.

The military follows orders and they will follow those orders even if it's against their own civilians. Don't get it twisted they can and will do it again

So many lies and coverups. I remember how pissed we all were when that happened. The news was so full of lies - fake news isn’t new. My brother who was spared a trip to Viet Nam because he had asthma was such a relief to our family. I’m old. I lived through those times and believe they truly shaped my whole personality and world view. Now my heart breaks to see how worse things have gotten. I truly fear for our country more than I ever have. I hate the world we’re leaving our young people. We boomers and the so-called “Greatest Generation” really screwed up. Don’t even get me started on how so many of my co-baby boomers did a 180 and went yuppie greed is good in the 1980’s. Makes me so sad. And eff Ronald Reagan.

They had guns and were "threatened" by students 😒 cowards full stop. It's deplorable that no one was put in prison for murdering those students.

Being born in 2001 I knew many hated the Vietnam War but between KSU massacre and the Veterans against the Vietnam War plus finally seeing Sir No Sir, it has opened my eyes a bit. Happy that today we have an all volunteer force yes but maybe avoiding war is the real solution.

There were serious conflicts between the town and the university even before any of this began.

I wonder how many of these guardsmen went on to work for the ATF?

Thank you. ❤ this has so much significance in my life. And current events. Simon, you are one of my favorite presenters. I love those but also love your rambling off tangent ones. Kudos

Fantastic video full of information for people who don't have the baclground to understand whats going on here and just hear the word Radiation and lose their minds. I will be recommending it to everyone.

I am impressed with your growth over the years. I've watch a lot of your videos and while we disagree of views and opinions I am really impressed ❤❤❤

I live close to Kent State. I have been there quite a few times in life. It feels somber and haunted when that anniversary approaches.

Well 56 years later and who would've guessed? I hope history doesn't repeat with any student deaths.

This was horrible, and it divided people like a knife: people I had thought were sensible thought those kids deserved it for protesting.

Anyone who has seen Ken Burns' documentary will be aware that the majority of the US population supported the National Guard, many felt that the victims deserved it Why was the Jacksonville. Incident largely ignored? Some things have barely changed in that country.

Well done, George and Simon.

All of the guardsmen were acquitted. Despite the findings of the Commission, no group or individual has ever been held accountible for what happened there. I felt this was an important detail that is understated in the video.

Done exceptionally well

Just this past Saturday, UCF Football played Kent State and completely crushed them 56-6. They posted a tweet to the schools Twitter/X account with their QB on the phone on the sideline. They captioned the photo, "Somebody call the National Guard". And here we are 2 days later with the Kent State Massacre piece from Simon. Coincidence? Or is your story turnaround time just that damn good?

This reminds me The Paris bridge massacre of 1961. It is not well known. Make a vid on it Simon.

Minor technical issue. The safety on an M1 is in the trigger guard. It's not on the side of the weapon like you showed.

May 4th had a very different feeling as a Kent state graduate. Anyone who find themselves near Taylor hall, should absolutely take the tour. When I was there, Taylor hall had most of my classes as an architecture student.

I work at Kent State

Simon, thank you for covering this important, overlooked, and forgotten story from American history. I am a Kent State alumnus and familiar with the story. When some of my friends claim May 4th as Star Wars Day, I respond by saying it was Kent State's day first. I have taken part in several of the memorial commemorations as a student as well as, taught this lesson to incoming freshmen. This story needs to be told and remembered properly. Thanks Simon.

I love your Into the Shadows series. I'd love this to be converted to podcast like the Casual Criminalist series, as although I love and religiously listen to Casual Criminalist, this show is so much more informative and enjoyable for me as I feel like I'm learning much more. Keep it up

Remember that time Urban Outfitters (I think) made a “Kent State” sweater that was covered in fake blood splatters? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Companies will do anything for a buck.

30-06 > stones

Excellent episode. I first heard of the massacre from the music of Harvey Andrews, his album Writer of Songs has a track ‘Hey Sandy’ that’s worth listening to, as is much of his music.

Kinda reminds me of the shooting in Ådalen, Sweden. Workers went out on strike and began protesting. The military was called in, blocked the workers and suddenly an order was given. "FIRE!" The military opened fire with rifles and machine guns towards the protesters. Five killed, five wounded. The shooting only stopped when one of the protesters from the musical core blew the military signal for "Cease fire!" The whole event had significant influence in politics and also led to the prohibition of using the military against the country's own people.

I was a college student at a state school in Illinois when this occurred. One factor that is rarely discussed is that the National Guard was made up of working-class sons who enlisted instead of taking their chances and waiting to be drafted. This deal meant they were not going to the jungles ...not for now, anyway. This was also before student loans were available to families like those of the men who joined the National Guard. This meant that they saw the students as privileged and entitled while their families bore the brunt of the draft and the burden of combat. The idea that the students were disrupting the entire town REFUSING to do what the Guardsmen had been told was their "patriotic duty" was too much for them to tolerate. The men of the National Guard had come to Kent State to shoot students and ...God knows... that's exactly what they did.

For all of the factors that led to this tragedy, I think the worst of it boils down to the National Guard being deployed for a task for which they were not selected, trained, or equipped. They were selected, trained, and equipped to fight wars, not to engage in civilian law enforcement. Civilian law enforcement goes through a careful selection process that includes psychological testing and background checks. They typically receive more training than an infantry soldier. That training includes multiple force options and extensive legal training. Their equipment allows them to use different levels of force. Civilian law enforcement also has experience dealing with civilians. Despite what television and movies might portray, very little of this experience involves shooting or beating civilians. And, in spite of their relative advantages for their jobs, civilian law enforcement still gets it wrong far more often than we would prefer. I think we were probably lucky that the number of dead wasn’t far greater. I wouldn’t say that the National Guard itself was the hammer to the students’ nails. I will say that they were given hammers and trained to use them. The outcome should have been expected.

I did my national history project on the Kent State shootings, I appreciate this video. 🖤

My grandfather was one of the firefighters at the ROTC building. My grandmother told me that was the only night she was every concern for his safety and it wasn't due to the fire at the building. It was due to the protesters. Growing up in the area myself and going to Kent State in 03 I can tell you that this event still affects many in the area.

Excellent video, Boston Massacre next? I never thought about it much, but America really did start with military and police violence and continues to be. Where would it be without martyrs like Crispus Attucks?

That Newsweek cover of Kent State with the girl kneeling in grief over the dead guy is burnt into my mind. They were 100% right to protest that war, we killed and maimed a million over there for absolutely nothing, and people were being drafted. The National Guard were not very well trained or disciplined. Both sides, the Establishment and the anti-Establishment people were very paranoid at the time.

Every American would do well to consider this incident whenever they dream of what an empowered federal government could give them. Don't dream of the benefits. Dread the consequences.

Matt I hope to meet you next year at the school. Dave thanks for giving us so many options and ideas. I hope all of this animosity blows over soon. We are a small community. I personally appreciate all you have taught me so far and look forward to seeing you at my advanced class. Picked up a new camp stove today.

RIP Allison Krause (1951-1970) Jeffrey Miller (1950-1970) Sandra L. Scheuer (1949-1970) and William K. Schroeder (1950-1970)

I was just a kid when this went down, Normally, living 2 blocks from downtown Kent, all the neighborhood kids were allowed to go into town. Suddenly, we couldn't even go off the block without an adult. It was our first experience with violence, rioting and looting. Fear became real.

Growing up in Ohio you were taught this. Now kids have no clue about it.

So….what you are saying is that students started the whole mess when they started throwing bottles at the police?

In a similar vane, I think it's important to talk about the 1972 version of "Bloody Sunday". On 30th January 1972, a peaceful demonstration in Northern Ireland's second City, Derry/Londonderry, that was a protest against the policy of internment without trial, descended into massacre. The Parachute Regiment of the British Army, some of the Army Units deployed to Northern Ireland from 1969 after ethnic tensions and general mistrust erupted into violence between those who wanted Northern Ireland to reunite with the rest of Ireland and those who wanted to remain part of the UK, had blocked off a particular section of streets in the city and while some started showering them with projectiles of various sorts, the troops opened fire on those who weren't actually attacking them. The result was 13 unarmed demonstrators killed and a further 17 wounded. In an initially, heavily biased investigation, the British government pinned the blame on the protesters. However, the local community, knowing what actually happened, refused to accept what the official report said and kept up the message that there had been a cover-up. In the end, it took until 2010, when David Cameron became Prime Minister, for the UK government to officially apologise for Bloody Sunday. Sadly though, as so much time had passed between the massacre and the apology by Cameron, and many of those who made the ill-fated decision to open fire had passed away or in no condition to give evidence, the friends and family of those killed that day in January 1972 have been denied justice

11:22 😂 Simon, this one of those _exceedingly rare_ moments when saying a weapon (The M1 Garand) actually does recive from a *"CLIP"* and not a *"MAGAZINE."* 🤭