Kent State Truth Tribunal

On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed students protesting President Nixon’s newly-announced invasion of Cambodia in the Vietnam war. Four students were killed and nine were wounded by bullets shot from Ohio National Guard guns. The incident triggered national outrage in a country already divided over the Vietnam war. In the days that followed more than four million students rose up in dissent across 900 campuses, generating the largest nationwide student protest in U.S. history. The Kent State shootings have never been thoroughly examined and no person or group has been held accountable for wrongdoing. Five decades later, family members of those killed initiated the Kent State Truth Tribunal to preserve and honor the stories and voices of those who were there and whose lives have been marked by this tragedy. We have begun to share the 70+ testimonials as we establish and publish the Kent State Truth Archive. Stay tuned winter 2025 and spring 2026. The Kent State Truth Tribunal & Archive seeks official acknowledgment, apology and reconciliation for the May 4, 1970 Kent State massacre.