May 1972: The Two Year Anniversary of the Kent State Killings

From the MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois) "Looking Back" for May 4, 2022.

1972, 50 years ago. 

"On Thursday morning, students at Northern Illinois University will conduct an anti-war march into DeKalb  and will hold a moratorium on classes at the university.

"The march is being held on the second anniversary of the killings at Kent State University and the subsequent  death of 15 people in demonstrations at Jackson State and Augusta, Georgia."

The Kent State shootings caused some violent confrontations between students and various law enforcement groups.

--Cooter

Fifty Years Ago, the Kent State Riots at NIU

From the May 20, 2020, MidWeek "Looking Back.'

1970, Fifty Years Ago.

"Students and police left the western part of the Northern Illinois University campus deeply scarred after a nightlong  series of hit-and-run clashes.

"Fifty-four persons were arrested, five police officers and four students injured, two university cars and two trucks were burned, and countless windows broken."

******************************

"A Rumor Control will be established  at 5 p.m. tonight by the DeKalb Human Relations Commission.

"The number to call is 756-XXXX for clarification  of any rumors you have heard or any information you have gathered pertaining to violence or disturbances in town."

To read about my experience during this time, click on the NIU Kent State Riots label below.

These Were Very Strange Times Indeed.  And, I Was on Campus When This All Happened.  --RoadDog

Coming Up on the Anniversary of Kent State

This past Sunday, Bob Stroud played music from April 8, 1970 on his Rock and Roll Roots radio show on WDRV in Chicago. It brought back lots of memories, including the events that transpired at Northern Illinois University in the aftermath of Kent State which took place later in the month.

This information from 2010 and given by Kenneth G. Trantowski, editor of the campus newspaper, The Northern Star, back then.

Four were killed and 11 wounded at Kent State in Ohio which touched off violence at most campuses.

The violence came late to NIU. On May 5th, 500+ protesters were at an anti-war, anti-ROTC rally. DeKalb, DeKalb County and Sycamore police arrested 37.

May 6th, 8,000 gathered which led to more arrests. DeKalb mayor Jesse Chamberlain pleaded with Governor Ogilvie to send in the Illinois National Guard.

These Are Some Times I Won't Forget. --Cooter

41st Anniversary of Kent State Coming Up

Last year was its 40th, on May 4th. I didn't get around to writing about it.

When President Nixon announced that we had sent troops into Cambodia this sparked big protests in the US, especially on college campuses. One such demonstration took place on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio.

The Ohio National Guard was called in to keep order. The protest went on from 11 am to 1:30 pm when the troops fired on the students, killing four and wounding others.

Today, you can take a walking tour of the sites and a visitors center is planned.

A big commemoration was planned last year and a recess at the time of the shooting.

Of course, this set off violent reactions at campuses all across the United States, including where I was a freshman at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, although the worst for us didn't come for two weeks.

Better Late Than Never. --DaCoot

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 9

Continuing with the scrapbook I kept back in May 1970 when I really thought I was seeing the end of the good 'ol USA.

These are headlines:

Arise now, ye patriots!-- By Mike Royko

House modifies call for college hearings

'Period of meditation' Smith cancels all classes

Attacks in Cambodia 'necessary': Nixon

Two-day moratorium called

Smith sends condolences to Jackson

White students list 3 'action' demands

Firebomb

Supports black demands

Jackson city police testify before panel

ROTC audit encouraged

Blacks react to Jackson

Police arrest 35 at Tuesday confrontation

Back to Normal

Bail-bond

Right On

Northern Illinois University's campus in Dekalb was quite the scene of action in the weeks following the Kent State shootings. I sure wish I had put the newspaper articles in chronological order, but at least I had the foresight to keep a record of it. Like I said, i really though I was witnessing the end of the United States back in those days.

Quite a Time. --DaCoot

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 8: "Dorms Remain Calm"

Strangely, the violence that occurred at Northern Illinois started almost two weeks after Kent State. Until I looked at the scrapbook, I was of the opinion it started within a day or so. I guess that happens when you get old as I am approaching my 59th birthday in ten days. I do wish I had included dates in the article and some are not in chronological order.

Some more headlines from the campus newspaper, the Northern Star:

Smith's decision shows courage.

'Politics killed them': Kent killings recounted

Dorms remain calm

Tonight William Kunstler of the "Conspiracy 7" raps and answers your questions

36 arrests follow NIU disturbances

Students leave NIU for home

Pass-fail, drop options prompt quick reactions

Students charge faulty arrests

Tuesday night arrests: 54

ROTC stays

Vote fairness satisfies McDermott, Huntington

Still Not Finished. --Cooter

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 7

National Guard alerted

Everybody loses at the bridge

False analogy

Guerrilla tactics 101

May Fete cancelled

Busted

Greeks & freaks together: Campus unites for march

No Star Tomorrow

Vote preludes disorders

Pane-ful

Battle rages; 43 arrested

As you can see, it was a rough period of time.

End of the US? --Cooetr

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 6

More headlines from the Northern Star student newspaper at Northern Illinois University during the month of May 1970.

These headlines give you an idea of the climate at the time, and believe me, it was a bit frightening. I was sure I was witnessing the end of the United States.

City businessmen report estimated store damages.

Ogilvie alerts Guard for campus standbys

Guard begins Kent State withdrawal

Greeks decide on stand for march on campus

Businessmen seek retribution: Dekalb to bill NIU for damages

Incidents result in eight injuries

West Campus dorms affected by damages to physical plant

Additional faculty members 'x-ert' voice

Third option to ROTC

Continuing. --Cooter

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 5

Continuing with the Northern Star headlines.

Three students, five policemen injured Monday.

Referendum climaxes ROTC controversy

Remember

Damages to on-campus buildings near $9,500.

Groppi raps hypocrites

Police establish NIU command

Eyewitness: reporter tells arrest story

Protesters rampage campus

U. Council OK's grade options

Collins petition attacks NIU

Release of 34 jailed students arranged by Bail-Bond Committee

Tuesday night: 54 arrested, six not students

Guardsmen are People too

Kill da hippies

McAtee's majority

Still Have More. --DaCoot

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 4

Continuing with headlines from the Northern Star from the month of May.

Jackson-- do Black lives count?

Property vs. lives

Optional finals?

Washington antiwar rally 'parallels picnic, not protest'

Be a Marine officer?

Dekalb Post 66 American Legion supports 1. ROTC, 2. Freedom of Choice, 3. Law and Order, 4. For God and Country.

Where is Love?

Campus justice provokes unjust arrest

Bail subsidizing violence?

Thank you, Dr. Weaver

Monday night

Morality dictates no-ROTC vote

These are from the headlines, picture captions, ads and editorials

Not Finished Yest. --Cooter

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 3: "Dispersion Was Demanded"

These are the headlines from the scrapbook I kept for the month of May 1970, mostly from the student newspaper The Northern Star. I hadn't kept a scrapbook before during my freshman year, but with events unfolding as they were, I felt it was important to start one. One of the early aspects of this obsession of mine where I feel I have to write everything down.

I have the articles as well, but the headlines tell the story well on their own.

The front cover has this written on it: "The Place Went Nuts" The Northern Star reports what went on during the month of May, 1970. Northern Illinois University


HEADLINES

Guard requested

Students take a stand on sit-ins

The issue for tonight's march is...

Last Chance

Campus unrest

Volunteers raise $530 bail

Does 'saving' Vietnam mean destroying it?

An open Letter to NIU

Dispersion was demanded

Clubs to guns; What next?

To Be Continued. --Cooter

40th Anniversary of Kent State-- Part 2

I kept a scrapbook of clipping from the student newspaper, The Northern Star during this month, and I'm glad I did. I just wish I had also kept a journal back then.

I thought that the violence at Northern Illinois erupted the following day or two. There were marches and a renewed call to kick ROTC off campus, a continuing sore point between anti-war people and those who supported it. The fraternities and sororities in the Greek system came under fire as well for not supporting the anti-war movement.

At the time, I was pledging Delta Sigma Phi and was just about to become an active or just had. I'm not sure.

There were several marches and definitely an increased police presence on campus and in Dekalb. I can remember once going into town to Pizza Villa and as we walked around a corner, we ran into several police in full battle-garb and one had a big old tear gas gun.

Looking at the articles, the real battle didn't begin until a couple weeks later right after a visit from activist Father James Groppi from the Milwaukee Catholic Diocese.

Tomorrow, I will write down the headlines from my scrapbook.

Like I Wrote on the Cover of the Scrapbook, "The Place Went Nuts."

40th Anniversary of Kent State Today-- Part 1

It was 40 years ago today that Ohio National Guard troops opened fire on anti-war protesters at Kent State University, killing four and wounding eleven.

The Vietnam War was the big thing on college campuses back in the late 60s-early 70s. When boys graduated high school, they essentially had the choice of two things: go to college or go to Vietnam. Some opted for a third choice to leave the US, many going to Canada or Europe.

Of course, this depended upon your draft lottery number. If you got a high number, chances were good that you wouldn't be drafted. The first year they had the lottery, I was too young and got a #31. I figured that meant that I would get a high number when it counted. Wrong. I got a #22. I had always planned on being a teacher and going to college so I didn't go just to avoid the draft, but there were many guys who did.

I was a freshman living at Lincoln Hall dormitory at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb at this time. Just about once a week, there would be an anti-war march through campus. I did not participate, nor did most of my dorm floor, but we watched. I remember once someone in the march had a Viet Cong flag and some of our guys ran out and took it.

However, when word of Kent State reached campus, things got ugly, as they did at colleges all across the United States. How dare the National Guard kill unarmed students doing a legal protest.

Marches were planned for the next day, and to say the least, things were getting tense.

Next, Violence at Good 'Ol NIU. --Cooter