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VVAW Strong Presence at KSU 40th Anniversary

By Marty Webster

On May 1-4, VVAW National Coordinators, Barry Romo, Buzz Doyle and Marty Webster joined Vets For Peace (VFP) and VVAW members for the 40th anniversary of the National Guard's opening fire on hundreds of students on the campus of Kent State University (KSU) in northeast Ohio. The unarmed students were protesting the Vietnam war. Four students were killed and nine were injured. VVAW members traveled from places as far away as Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina to attend the event.

Bobby Seale

This year KSU has taken new steps to acknowledge and make sense of the incident. An application to add the site of the shootings to the National Register of Historic Places – rare for an event less than 50 years old – was approved by the US Interior Department. A self-guided "May 4 Walking Tour," featuring trail markers and audio narration by civil rights leader Julian Bond, debuts next month.

Popular singer Country Joe McDonald presented two videos that were followed by a panel discussion with VVAW leaders Barry Romo and Marty Webster. Many military veterans were present along with a mixture of current students and several of the students who had been injured during the shooting. After the event conversations continued and a special bond developed between the students and the Vietnam veterans.

Mark Rudd, Bernadine Dohrn and other former members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) as well as former members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) participated in conferences presented by current KSU students who adopted the task of keeping the flame alive. Former Black Panther Party leader, Bobby Seale, spoke at the KSU Pan African Affairs Department.

In the KSU Student Center, an excellent Kent State activism history documentary film premiered entitled Fire in the Heartland by Danny Miller. A very moving film, entitled Disturbing The Universe, was also shown. A tribute to America's outstanding radical attorney, William Kunstler, the documentary was produced by his daughters Emily and Sarah Kunstler. The film was followed by a panel discussion featuring the Kunstler sisters/filmmakers and Kent activists who worked with Bill Kunstler during 1970-1977.

The night before commemorative activities, there was a Candlelight march and vigil at the KSU Commons Victory Bell.

From Noon until 3pm on May 4, the 40th Annual Commemoration took place at the KSU Commons featuring speakers and musicians including keynote speakers Black Panther Party leader, Bobby Seale, and Gerald Casale of DEVO. Music was provided by Country Joe McDonald.

Other speakers included John Filo, esteemed 1970 KSU photographer, Gene Young, Jackson State massacre eyewitness, Russ Miller, brother of KSU martyr Jeff Miller, Florence Schroeder, mother of KSU martyr William Schroeder, Joe Lewis, eyewitness Chic Canfora, and Sanford Rosen, attorney for KSU casualties' families.

VVAW Ohio Contacts, Bill Reynolds and Brian Slease, put on a VVAW picnic on May 3rd at the home of Al Long, a gracious host.

Marty Webster is a VVAW National Coordinator.

Buzz Doyle, Marty Webster, Alan Canfora & Barry Romo