Historical+Background

On Thursday, April 30, 1970 the current president of the United States **Richard Nixon** announced that the US had launched the //Cambodian Incursion//, which was a series of military operations performed in eastern Cambodia. People did not like this decision by **Nixon** because he broke the promise that he campaigned on which was to end war in Vietnam. On Friday, May 1st there was a demonstration that was held in the center of the campus of Kent State. It was the typical rally location at Kent State. During this rally a student openly burned his draft card, which at the time was against the law. An even stronger showing of dislike towards the invasion a copy of the U.S Constitution the very symbol for liberty and freedom was burned. At this protest they planned another rally for the 4th of May, which was to protest the Invasion of Cambodia. That same night, Friday, May 1st there was a small gathering of approximately 120 people that eventually resulted in the police being involved. The crowd threw beer bottles at the police officers. This resulted in the **Mayor of Kent** to declare a state of emergency and the **Governor of Ohio** closed all of the bars in Kent. On Saturday, May 2nd, The Ohio Army National Guard was called into Kent State’s campus. The National Guard arrived at 10 p.m., and by that time Kent State’s ROTC building had already been lit on fire and was burning. No one was injured in the fire, and no one was arrested. Sunday, May 3rd, there was a Press conference where the **Governor Rhodes** of Ohio he added more wood to the fire by stating that the protesters were worse than the Brown Shirts (the infamous group known for their involvement with Hitler’s rise to power). Monday, May 4th, the protest reached its peek. The National Guard threatened the protesters with arrest if they continued their protest. The protesters responded with throwing rocks at the National Guard. Then, stoped throwing rocks, and ran away when the national guard advanced. Then, with trigger ready **Sgt. Taylor** said, "What should I do?" The Decision