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It was hot in America, too, that weekend prior: the Lakers
played the Knicks for the championship; Muhammad Ali had
just been stripped of his boxing title; the Beatles were
letting it be; ROTC centers across the nation were under
attack; and Richard Nixon had just dropped a verbal
bombshell in a “Cambodia speech.” Residents of Kent, Ohio,
who hated the local college population’s burgeoning
political activism, complained about out-of-towners who
seemed to be goading the students.
Students at Kent State University were likewise restless;
frisky at the end of a long cold winter, they flocked to
downtown bars to let off steam, and various protest
organizations had rallied that weekend. Rumors flew like
Frisbees, claiming that the campus’ ROTC building would be
torched but police and officials didn’t appear worried, and
didn’t seem surprised when it did.
Shortly afterward, students were put under lock-down, and
the National Guard took over campus.
There were protests that Saturday night; hundreds of
students were tear-gassed, but few thought that Guardsmen
actually had live ammunition. Helicopters scanned campus and
looked for curfew violators. It was quieter on Sunday, a bit
more relaxed, though there were isolated incidences of
violence and, despite that there was a ban, an anti-Guard
protest rally was scheduled for Monday, May 4 at noon.
At 9:00 a.m. Monday, a meeting was held by officials to
discuss looming problems. Early classes were warned to stay
away from trouble.
Tear-gas was in the air just before lunch.
At 11:58, some Guardsmen were ordered to form a line.
By 12:24, the first of four students lay dead…
It’s hard not to think of a certain iconic picture when
you’re reading 67 Shots. It’s hard not to hear Neil
Young in your head, and it’s definitely hard not to wince.
Even though we know what happens, there’s a sense of dread
in the scenes that author Howard Means recreates, which
escalate to the breathtaking culmination of this book. That
arrives, surprisingly, long before you even get halfway
through the pages; Means then shows how everything changed
in just thirteen seconds, how Kent State “unmoored” a nation
and a president, and what ramifications came in the
aftermath – legally, personally (to those who were there),
and historically.
While, of course, anyone can read this book, I think it’ll
have more meaning to Boomers who remember the before and
after of Kent State. 67 Shots is a sharp account
that fills in the blanks and takes you back. For that,
you’ll want it in a heartbeat. |
