Four Dead in OHIO—The Kent State Shootings in 1970

On May 4th, 1970, Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on Kent State students protesting the invasion of Cambodia, the escalation of the Vietnam War – and the presence of the guard on campus.

Four students died; nine were wounded.

The scene became an icon for the Baby Boom generation. In 2010, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, as a site that contributed significantly to the understanding of the nation’s history and culture.

Where is Kent State University?

Located in Kent, Ohio, the Kent Campus is ideally situated in northeastern Ohio, amid rolling terrain dotted by spring-fed lakes. Kent, a city of some 28,000, rests on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Portage County. Yet, “big city” enthusiasts are only a short drive from four major urban centers – 11 miles east of Akron, 33 miles southeast of Cleveland, 40 miles west of Youngstown and 28 miles north of Canton, with airports offering access to the nation and the world. Kent State University is easily accessible from all directions via major interstate highways; Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana turnpikes; Cleveland Hopkins Airport; and Akron-Canton Airport.

OHIO Lyrics
(Words and Music by Neil Young)

Tin soldiers and Nixon’s 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?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,
We’re finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drumming,
Four dead in Ohio.

SIDEBAR: Neil Young also wrote “Rockin’ In The Free World” which was adopted as an anthem to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall. Canadian-born, Neil Young continues to write and record, including the controversial political album Living With War in 2006, which was nominated for three Grammys.

Kent State Remembered on NPR.org

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