C&P Newswire
Kent State University marked the 55th anniversary of the May 4, 1970 tragedy on Sunday with a solemn ceremony of remembrance, reflection, and renewed commitment to peace.
Hundreds gathered on the university’s Commons at noon, where four students were killed and nine others wounded during an anti-Vietnam War protest that turned deadly when the Ohio National Guard opened fire. The event, etched into the national consciousness, has come to symbolize the deep divisions of the Vietnam War era and the consequences of domestic unrest.
This year’s commemoration featured emotional remarks from students, faculty, and administrators, all standing mere feet from the memorial markers that denote where Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder fell. At precisely 12:24 p.m.—the moment shots rang out in 1970—the Victory Bell tolled, followed by a moment of silence as the crowd stood united in remembrance.
“We gather not only to honor those who lost their lives and those who were wounded, but also to continue the dialogue they helped ignite,” said Kent State President Todd Diacon. “Their legacy lives on in our pursuit of peace and justice.”
Adding a fresh chapter to that legacy, the university unveiled a powerful new mural earlier in the week in the School of Peace and Conflict Studies. Titled “Visualizing Peace, a work in progress,” the vibrant artwork is a collaborative piece, designed to evolve with contributions from students, artists, and activists over time. The mural is a visual tribute to healing, nonviolence, and the ongoing journey toward understanding and reconciliation.
The campus, once a site of national trauma, has increasingly embraced its role as a place of learning from the past. The May 4 Visitors Center and historical walking tour sites now draw thousands each year, providing an unflinching account of the events and a space to grapple with their meaning.
For those attending the ceremony Sunday, the message was clear: remembering the past is essential to shaping a better future.
“We can’t undo what happened,” said senior Kelsey Ramone, who helped organize the event. “But we can honor the lives lost by standing up for peace and civic engagement today.”
As bells echoed across the campus, Kent State once again became a gathering place—not for protest or conflict—but for remembrance, reflection, and hope.
