50 years ago today, May 4, 1970. I was only 9 but I #RememberKentState
50 years ago today, May 4, 1970. I was only 9 but I remember being told of this horrific tragedy and watching the news accounts of it on TV. The "Four dead in Ohio" (mentioned in CSN&Y's song, "Ohio", linked below), are Allison Krause, William Schroeder, Jeffrey Miller, and Sandra Scheuer. "How can you run when you know?"* Let us take a moment, all of us, to remember not only this day in history but to honour those brave, innocent protesters who lost their lives and those 11 others whose lives were irrevocably changed forever trying to bring peace to the world and our nation. This day changed not only history but it, and their sacrifices, has played an important role in the way we, as Americans and social justice activists, approach and commit to remaining firm in our activism for social justice, progress and peace.
One of the things that strikes me about this picture of Kent State 50 yrs ago is how familiar is the look and countenance of the students. Look at them...drawn together, fists upraised in protest. They look like US; they *are* US. We must never forget that these students are our predecessors. May we, in remembering and honouring *them,* find the strength and the will to continue *our* fight for progress that their fight, their sacrifices and their losses were not in vain but are, in fact and in deed, the backbone of our fight for a better "today" and all our "tomorrows." #RememberKentState #NeverForget #Bernie2020
"50 years ago, the Kent State shootings changed the country" by Ben Kesslen
If you're not already familiar with the following songs, please take a few minutes to listen, watch and contemplate them: *"Ohio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68g76j9VBvM&t=)" and "Find the Cost of Freedom (www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGFD-rqqQhI)," both by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, are two iconic songs to come out of the aftermath of this unwarranted and totally unnecessary tragedy. They are both well-worth watching, *seeing* the images and spending some time contemplating the lyrics. They remind us of the price that other peaceful activists, as well as all those who died in the Vietnam War, have paid trying to preserve and protect the freedoms that we so often take for granted.
"Ohio" Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Lyrics and side note excerpt from: genius.com/Crosby-stills-nash-and-young-ohio-lyrics
Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin' We're finally on our own This summer I hear the drummin' 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?
La la la la la la la la La la la la la la la la La la la la la la la la Na na na na na na
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's comin' We're finally on our own This summer I hear the drummin' Four dead in Ohio
Four dead in Ohio (four) Four dead in Ohio (How!) Four dead in Ohio (How many more?) Four dead in Ohio (What?) Four dead in Ohio (Oh!) Four dead in Ohio (Oh!) Four dead in Ohio (What?) Four dead in Ohio (Ah) Four dead in Ohio...
Side Note: Due to its “anti-war” and “anti-establishment” sentiments, the song was banned from some AM playlists in the United States.
"Find the Cost of Freedom" Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Lyrics from: genius.com/Crosby-stills-nash-and-young-find-the-cost-of-freedom-lyrics
Find the cost of freedom Buried in the ground Mother Earth will swallow you Lay your body down
Find the cost of freedom Buried in the ground Mother Earth will swallow you Lay your body down
