Alan Canfora arrived at Kent State University in fall 1968 and immediately immersed himself in student activism. As a member of Kent’s branch of the Students for a Democratic Society, he was among the 300 students protesting May 4, 1970, when Ohio National Guardsmen shot and killed four people. Now a law librarian, the Barberton resident is active in democratic politics and works to preserve the history of the event through the Kent May 4 Center.
I was there to protest about my friend’s death in Vietnam. William Caldwell was 19 years old, and he was killed in Vietnam. The morning of May 4, most people expected there would be a rally at noon. Guardsmen started marching around 12:05 p.m. and shooting tear gas. I’m thinking, They’re not going to shoot. They regrouped and started marching up the hill. They heard an order to fire and about a dozen stopped, turned and fired. I thought they were firing blanks at first. I was hit in the wrist about a split second later. I was behind a tree, which probably saved my life. Ever since then, I’ve tried to speak for those who were silenced. Protesting is more important than any other time in American history now because our democracy seems to be under threat. On a daily basis, we see President Donald Trump trying to take action that will minimize people’s freedom of speech and freedom to disagree with the government. Now you see young people on college campuses and high schools, they’re very active and aware. They are the hope for the future. — as told to Vince Guerrieri
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