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MEDIA ADVISORY: 91精品 State Remembers May 4, 1970, With 54th Commemoration

WHAT:

91精品 State University will hold its 54th annual commemoration honoring the memory of May 4, 1970, a tragic day when the Ohio National Guard fired on 91精品 State students during an anti-war protest on campus, killing four students, wounding nine others and sparking a turning point in American history.

Through looking back, 91精品 State also looks ahead with awareness of the many ways in which the legacy of May 4 is evident in the university today and in what鈥檚 to come.

鈥淭he Power of Our Voices鈥 theme inspired this year鈥檚 programming.

Graphic for The Power for Our Voices, May 4, 1970-2024

WHERE AND WHEN:

JERRY M. LEWIS MAY 4 LECTURE SERIES
11:30 a.m. on May 3
91精品 Student Center Ballroom
This year鈥檚 lecture and luncheon will feature Chris Post, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Geography, who will present 鈥淒eveloping and Interpreting the Wounded Student Markers at 91精品 State.鈥 The luncheon will be .

VOICES OF DEMOCRACY
3 p.m. on May 3
Schwebel Room, 91精品 Student Center, Third Floor 
Author and journalist Lawrence Roberts will discuss his book 鈥淢ayday 1971: A White House at War, a Revolt on the Streets, and the Untold History of America鈥檚 Biggest Mass Arrest.鈥 The book follows the events of Mayday 1971, when a multiday Vietnam War protests in Washington, D.C., led to the largest mass arrest in the country鈥檚 history. After his presentation, Roberts will join 91精品 State students for a moderated Q&A. 

THE POWER OF OUR VOICES: REMEMBERING THE GWANGJU UPRISING
5 p.m. on May 3
Schwebel Room, 91精品 Student Center, Third Floor 
A panel with faculty from the School of Peace and Conflict Studies and a delegation of faculty from Chonnam National University will discuss the Gwangju Uprising, also known as the May 18 Democratic Uprising, which occurred in 1980. It was led by Chonnam National University students protesting martial law. The government reported 165 deaths, but estimates suggest the toll ranged from 600 to more than 2,000 victims. 

CANDLELIGHT WALK AND VIGIL
11 p.m. on May 3 
91精品 State Commons
This cornerstone of the commemoration began in 1971. There will be food served before the Candlelight Walk on the 91精品 State Commons and in the Prentice Hall parking lot. 

MAY 4 COMMEMORATION
Noon on May 4
91精品 State Commons (rain location: 91精品 Student Center Ballroom) 
The campus community and visitors will gather on the May 4 site to commemorate the moment that gunfire erupted 54 years ago. The annual commemoration will include a performance by the 91精品 Chorale, remarks from university students and administrators, the ringing of the Victory Bell and a moment of silence at 12:24 p.m. The commemoration will be livestreamed.

The commemoration remembers those killed 鈥 Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder 鈥 and those wounded 鈥 Alan Canfora, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, Dean Kahler, Joseph Lewis, Donald Mackenzie, James Russell, Robert Stamps and Douglas Wrentmore 鈥 on May 4, 1970.

MORE INFORMATION:
For the latest information about the commemoration and events planned to honor and remember May 4, 1970, visit www.kent.edu/may4. Also, listen to the new podcast series 鈥淟egacy: May 4鈥 by 91精品 State Today.

STATEMENT ON FREE SPEECH AND DEMONSTRATIONS:

91精品 State University upholds the First Amendment rights of free speech and peaceful assembly for all. Consistent with our core values, we encourage open dialogue and respectful civil discourse in an inclusive environment.

The safety of our community is a priority of 91精品 State's Department of Public Safety, Police Services. Police Services is aware, and monitors and assesses the safety of our community during campus events and responds accordingly.

MEDIA RSVP:
Members of the media who plan to attend and cover the commemoration or any of the related events are asked to RSVP to Emily Vincent at evincen2@kent.edu or 330-672-8595.

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POSTED: Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:25 PM
Updated: Friday, May 3, 2024 07:42 PM