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PJMcK

(22,060 posts)

131. I remember it clearly

Fri May 4, 2018, 07:35 PM

May 2018

That happened when I was in junior high school and it was shocking to me. We lived in suburban Connecticut and this kind of behavior happened in Eastern Europe, not in the United States.

Kids at my school scheduled an after-school protest march and I participated by painting signs and walking the two miles from the school to the town hall. It was my first politically "activist" event. We actually got a little bit of press coverage in those pre-internet/pre-cable TV days.

At the time, I had just begun to pay attention to politics and current events and it was a searing moment.

My brother, who is five years younger than I, has no memory of the event. However, he went to Kent State for his Bachelor's Degree and each time I visited him, we would go to the memorial and library. Although I'm an atheist, it's a hallowed space.

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How Many DUers Actually Remember the Kent State Killings? [View all] MineralMan May 2018 OP

I was back in college in California at the time, MineralMan May 2018 #1

I was in my last year of college in California. The shooting resonated. Shrike47 May 2018 #2

I was in Columbus, Ohio at OSU. My sister had graduated from Kent in 1969. sinkingfeeling May 2018 #3

I was 15 and already protesting the war. redstatebluegirl May 2018 #4

I was 16 years old and protesting the war. Zoonart May 2018 #12

I was in 4th Grade Va Lefty May 2018 #5

I remember Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2018 #6

I was in 10th grade. Cattledog May 2018 #7

I was 11 mcar May 2018 #8

Freshman in High School jojog May 2018 #9

I had graduated from University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana nocoincidences May 2018 #10

I was hitch hiking back to Ann Arbor safeinOhio May 2018 #11

I did a lot of hitchhiking in those days, too. MineralMan May 2018 #15

I was living in Mexico City at the time lunatica May 2018 #13

Senior year in high school in the suburbs of Pgh. Allison livetohike May 2018 #14

HS freshman. The "Love it or leave it" flag stickers on cars lost all legitimacy. fleabiscuit May 2018 #16

In Tulsa yellerpup May 2018 #17

I was Graduating from High School nykym May 2018 #18

I was living 20 minutes away from Kent State and still do. Trust Buster May 2018 #19

I Was Only 11 Years Old Leith May 2018 #20

Sophomore in High School nightwing1240 May 2018 #21

People not voting is why we're in the spot we're in right now. MineralMan May 2018 #22

My sister's niece from Cleveland was a student at Kent State Greybnk48 May 2018 #23

I was 60 miles away in Oberlin, Ohio. kwassa May 2018 #24

I'd been on vacation in Australia, PoindexterOglethorpe May 2018 #25

In elementary school in California. revmclaren May 2018 #26

I was in Evanston, IL, and a junior in college. greatauntoftriplets May 2018 #27

I was a junior in high school. mantis49 May 2018 #28

I was 17 and I think Ferrets are Cool May 2018 #29

Me too. Smallish town in Oregon. Hippies were frowned on. Kittycow May 2018 #145

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, We're finally on our own. Ferrets are Cool May 2018 #146

I don't specifically remember that afternoon, but sure remember the immediate aftermath. Yonnie3 May 2018 #30

I was in high school Thunderbeast May 2018 #31

I was a junior at the U of W in Seattle. We had protests at our school as a result of the killings. jalan48 May 2018 #32

It happened the spring I was graduating from high school csziggy May 2018 #33

I remember it--I was a young wife and mom with a 4 year old daughter at home... CaliforniaPeggy May 2018 #34

Do you know I still have my Gene McCarthy campaign materials, including the "daisy" bumperstickers Hekate May 2018 #114

Middle schooler. Ilsa May 2018 #35

In college, organizing a teach in to explain the bombings in Cambodia grantcart May 2018 #36

I just finished my third year of college. NT 49jim May 2018 #37

I was like 8 years old at the time... MrScorpio May 2018 #38

I was 8 too, but I do remember being conscious of the assasinations and Squinch May 2018 #129

First year of high school fmdaddio May 2018 #39

I was 20 years old...... a kennedy May 2018 #40

Wasn't born yet Blue_Tires May 2018 #41

I was still in elementary school but I remember this Gothmog May 2018 #42

Thanks for all the responses. Keep them coming. MineralMan May 2018 #43

I was on my 2nd tour of duty in Vietnam when this happened john657 May 2018 #44

I was in 8th grade TexasBushwhacker May 2018 #45

I was a freshman in college in FL. dameatball May 2018 #46

Still in Memphis. Must have been seventh grade at that time. Laffy Kat May 2018 #47

U of Hawai'i, and glad to be there. I didn't understand the Mainland and the violence sickened me Hekate May 2018 #48

How many of you remember Jackson State several weeks later? Stargleamer May 2018 #49

I remember the images on TV that night rurallib May 2018 #100

Freshman in college, Illinois. Canoe52 May 2018 #50

Mary Ann Vecchio briefly attended my high school afterward. Scurrilous May 2018 #51

The next day was Armed Forces Day Capperdan May 2018 #52

My Mom was on the cover of Time (Not really) Boxerfan May 2018 #53

Pursuing an advanced degree somewhere in the continental U.S. I am not saying more because I rzemanfl May 2018 #54

SF Bay Area Brother Buzz May 2018 #55

I was in 8th Grade in Houston, Tx. kairos12 May 2018 #56

+++ I have figured that out also .... lunasun May 2018 #163

Senior in high school, South Louisiana catrose May 2018 #169

gotta get down to it, soldiers are cutting us down.... infullview May 2018 #57

I was in Michigan, in Junior High. LisaM May 2018 #58

I was out of college, working, and waiting for my draft notice May 4, 1970. Elwood P Dowd May 2018 #59

High school senior in DC area. 50 Shades Of Blue May 2018 #60

Living at home Doc_Technical May 2018 #61

I enlisted in the USAF in 1965. No lottery then. MineralMan May 2018 #64

I was back home in north Georgia, working, out of the Army for three years Glorfindel May 2018 #62

I was curious to hear where people were at the time. MineralMan May 2018 #67

Well, you have set me to thinking, MineralMan Glorfindel May 2018 #107

I was finishing up 6th grade and almost 12. tosh May 2018 #63

Yes, I was in Nam. pwb May 2018 #65

You're right about that. Elwood P Dowd May 2018 #77

Can't disagree, but regular military had plenty of gung-ho types ready to kill innocent Asians too. Hoyt May 2018 #168

8 years old; picked up the paper JenniferJuniper May 2018 #66

Wow! That must have made an impression on you. MineralMan May 2018 #70

Such were the times. JenniferJuniper May 2018 #78

Yes. MineralMan May 2018 #108

8th grade. Saw it on the evening news. LeftInTX May 2018 #68

Me too, 8th grade Freddie May 2018 #106

I was young, married lillypaddle May 2018 #69

How sad that your father said that! MineralMan May 2018 #71

Yeah, he was a real Archie Bunker lillypaddle May 2018 #73

So was my dad. LeftInTX May 2018 #121

Wow, those were horrific times lillypaddle May 2018 #148

I think this was the general attitude of the day for many people. Alea May 2018 #103

They felt threatened by LeftInTX May 2018 #122

That's how Nixon won Freddie May 2018 #132

It was beyond me lillypaddle May 2018 #147

We drove into SF that afternoon. WhiteTara May 2018 #72

Thank you for doing that! MineralMan May 2018 #74

I was in a friend's driveway playing hoops KPN May 2018 #75

should have added vaguely remember it. mopinko May 2018 #76

Terre Haute, Indiana, teaching at the Univ. planetc May 2018 #79

in college CanisCrocinus May 2018 #80

Junior in High School MuseRider May 2018 #81

In my senior year of high school DFW May 2018 #82

I was at Boston U. heaven05 May 2018 #83

Just finished my 4 year Navy hitch Submariner May 2018 #84

it was the day after my 20th birthday. I was in college. Remember it well. n/t Hamlette May 2018 #85

I remember - it was fucking shocking - and we had a sit-down in high school the next day. jpak May 2018 #86

I do I was there for little sis week. samplegirl May 2018 #87

Salem NH. About to graduate eighth grade in a month or so. maveric May 2018 #88

I was a freshman in high school in prairierose May 2018 #89

It was ancient history to me by the time I learned about it. Alea May 2018 #90

A short video from Dan Rather videos. fleabiscuit May 2018 #91

Thanks fleabiscuit Alea May 2018 #98

I was 14, in middle school. It was into my arthritisR_US May 2018 #92

4th grade in Houston GrapesOfWrath May 2018 #93

Was in Dayton, Ohio aka-chmeee May 2018 #94

High school in Florida. Ligyron May 2018 #95

Sophomore in college in Potsdam, NY fierywoman May 2018 #96

NYU annabanana May 2018 #97

I believe I was at a rally back at the U of Iowa that day rurallib May 2018 #99

I was 15, in high school in Dayton. OilemFirchen May 2018 #101

In the Marine Corps Dyedinthewoolliberal May 2018 #102

I remember it. I had been living in Ohio and remember getting college info from Kent. Vinca May 2018 #104

I was in 8th grade back then. DinahMoeHum May 2018 #105

Again, thanks for all the replies! MineralMan May 2018 #109

We really appreciate you asking for our memories! FailureToCommunicate May 2018 #139

They're great to read! MineralMan May 2018 #141

Well, you shouldn't be. Beyond the subject matter, just your name on a post makes people FailureToCommunicate May 2018 #142

I was a senior at Emory University in Atlanta redstateblues May 2018 #110

I was in college (upstate New York) Golden Raisin May 2018 #111

Fairbanks, Alaska raven mad May 2018 #112

I was 14, living about an hour south of Columbus, OH Maeve May 2018 #113

I was 20, BarbaRosa May 2018 #115

working at my first job onethatcares May 2018 #116

Senior in High School. We organized a general school strike from my house for May 8th... FailureToCommunicate May 2018 #117

I was in college myself Raine May 2018 #118

This thread is making me choke up, MM. I remember being shocked but NOT surprised... Hekate May 2018 #119

Yes. It's bringing everyone's personal memories MineralMan May 2018 #136

I had just got out of the Army in March. The Saturday following Kent State doc03 May 2018 #120

I am feeling the gender gap here. I was not born until a quarter of a century Exotica May 2018 #123

How many remember the Orangeburg killings at South Carolina State in 1968? Squinch May 2018 #124

I was only 10 coeur_de_lion May 2018 #125

I was attending San Fernando Valley State College (now CSU Northridge)... VOX May 2018 #126

It freaked me out. honest.abe May 2018 #127

I was seven and living in Middletown Ohio. airmid May 2018 #128

I was in the apt we shared in college lying on the sofa when it came on the TV. n/t RKP5637 May 2018 #130

I remember it clearly PJMcK May 2018 #131

I was a junior at the University of Missouri - Columbia. LastLiberal in PalmSprings May 2018 #133

In a college class, NYC eleny May 2018 #134

Attending university. guillaumeb May 2018 #135

Was vaguely aware of it but much more aware MaryMagdaline May 2018 #137

The Song was by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Haggis for Breakfast May 2018 #166

Yea my cousin posted the song on FB yesterday MaryMagdaline May 2018 #191

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2018 #138

In high school. TomSlick May 2018 #140

So are these the people the establishment was afraid of? Alea May 2018 #143

Yeah, pretty much. MineralMan May 2018 #144

I was in High School Wolf Frankula May 2018 #149

I was probably at work. I can't recall it making too much of an impression. FarCenter May 2018 #150

Junior High in NJ redwitch May 2018 #151

I was at a friend's house in Woburn, MA Frances May 2018 #152

Remember it clearly orangecrush May 2018 #153

I was at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. raging moderate May 2018 #154

I was a junior in high school dflprincess May 2018 #155

I was a sophmore in high school ladym55 May 2018 #156

This message was self-deleted by its author mulsh May 2018 #157

This entire post says something about the boomer generation DBoon May 2018 #158

That's a profound thought, DBoon PJMcK May 2018 #180

Yes, it does. I hope that gets noticed. MineralMan May 2018 #192

I was a junior in high school. Mugu May 2018 #159

Eighth grade history class. John1956PA May 2018 #160

I remember it and I was at Indiana University then karynnj May 2018 #161

I was a working on learning to talk in two word sentences and struggling with grasping pronouns. herding cats May 2018 #162

Sixth grade. McCamy Taylor May 2018 #164

I was a senior in high school Haggis for Breakfast May 2018 #165

I was a senior in high school KT2000 May 2018 #167

I was a little kid. Tracyjo May 2018 #170

Ann Arbor. GeorgeGist May 2018 #171

HS Freshman wondering WTF was going on... Historic NY May 2018 #172

I was a student at UCLA mnhtnbb May 2018 #173

I was 12. It was the day before my birthday. phylny May 2018 #174

i was home with our first, month-old baby, Hortensis May 2018 #181

Fresh back from VietNam Homer Wells May 2018 #175

I was a Junior in High School. Are_grits_groceries May 2018 #176

I was in Dayton Ohio wasupaloopa May 2018 #177

i grew up hearing about it, but didnt' live the event Demovictory9 May 2018 #178

I was a sophomore in High school. wendyb-NC May 2018 #179

I was 14 years old sellitman May 2018 #182

I was 16 and in high school just outside of Pittsburgh Guilded Lilly May 2018 #183

Housecleaning in our first home cyclonefence May 2018 #184

US Army, Berlin, Gemany. Short-timer, with just a couple of months to go. rgbecker May 2018 #185

At the time I was almost 12 & in GWC58 May 2018 #186

I was a young housewife with a 3 yr old. Living in NYC. Will never forget this. secondwind May 2018 #187

I was in a small town about 15 mikes outside KSU captain queeg May 2018 #188

Honolulu kpete May 2018 #189

Well this is embarrassing Runningdawg May 2018 #190

Saturday Morning, and I want to thank everyone again who posted MineralMan May 2018 #193

I was in college in Florida -- everyone was terrified and very angry. It felt like the Nay May 2018 #194

I was a freshman at TCU. displacedtexan May 2018 #195

I'm 65 and about 30 miles east. JohnnyRingo May 2018 #196

I see this thread is still going, thought I'd add a bit to my previous post. captain queeg Jun 2018 #197