Student opposition to the Vietnam War
In 1970, President Richard Nixon authorised the expansion of the Vietnam War into Cambodia. This led to more protests across the USA, including a number of universities. One of the most well-known protests took place at Kent State University in May 1970.
Kent State University protests
Students at Kent State University held a series of protests in early May. On the evening of the first day, during the protest they lit fires and smashed windows. In response, the mayor declared a state of emergency. The next evening, the students set fire to a university building, that was used to train reserve troops.
The next day, after things appeared to have calmed down, the students gathered on the university grounds. They were ordered to leave and did so. Finally, on 4 May, the students gathered once more. This time, the National Guard used tear gas on the students.
It was reported that members of the crowd picked up tear gas canisters, along with rocks, and threw them at the National Guard. In a confrontation between protesters and the National Guard 13 students were shot and four students died from their wounds.
Consequences
The deaths of American students protesting about the war profoundly shocked American society. Over the next few weeks, 4 million students took part in nationwide protests. One of the biggest took place in Washington, DC, involving around 100,000 students. Many university campuses, facing uncontrollable protests and disruption, decided to close. However, according to opinion pollAn activity in which many people are asked the same questions to find out what most people think about an issue. many Americans blamed the students for their own deaths.
Jackson State University protests
Shortly after the Kent State shootings, protests began at the black Jackson State University in Mississippi. This time, the police fired into the crowd and two students were shot dead. This again made the news, but some newspapers reported the police鈥檚 version of events. The police reports incorrectly claimed that there had been sniper fire from a dormitory window and that this had prompted their reaction. Even so, the events still fuelled anti-war protests in May 1970.