A student and photographer for the College Newspaper at the time, one of his photos was used on the cover of life magazine. He has published a book about his experience, moments of truth a photographers experience of kent state 1970. Max thank you all so much for coming out tonight. Tonight, we are hosting the photographer Howard Ruffner who, during his College Years at kent state university, was a photographer for the yearbook and newspaper. His book tonight, moments of truth, is a collection of more than 150 photos around the kent state massacre of 1970 in which four students lives were lost. So without further ado, please welcome Howard Ruffner. [applause] howard first of all, i have to say it is nice to see some familiar faces out here. Lots of people from pasadena village and relatives. My daughter is here with my soninlaw, and his parents are here. People from near where i live. But most of all, i have to thank my wife for being here. If she will just raise her hand. [applause] a
The areas in which these attacks are launched are controlled by north vietnamese forces. Our purpose is not to occupy the areas. Once enemy forces are driven out of these sanctuaries and once there military supplies are destroyed, we will withdraw. No wayctions are in directed at the security any government that chooses to use these actions as a pretext for hardening relationships with on its. Will be doing so own responsibility and initiative and we will draw the appropriate conclusions. Reasons me give you the for my decision. A majority of the American People, a majority of you listening to me are for the withdrawal of our forces from vietnam. The action i have taken tonight is indispensable for the continuing success of that withdrawal program. A majority of the American People want to end this war rather than have it drag on interminably. The action i have taken tonight will serve that purpose. A majority of the American People want to keep the casualties of our brave men in vietn
Joining us from his home is the author, howard means. Thank you for being with us. What happened and why did four students die and nine others were injured . Thats a big question. In the ultimate large sense of this, all the toxic orders of together atlowed Kent State University and the first weekend of may in 1970 it was an age of hate. Was an age of distrust. It was a generational divide. Right now, the museum laura davis was talking about, does a wonderful job of capturing all of this. Is a gem of the museum. That has a wonderful walk you can take, narrated and if you are anywhere near kent, stop and do it. In the more immediate sense, you nixons speech to that thursday, in which he announced the extension of the war into cambodia, after saying he was going to bring 150,000 troops and that was a time bomb waiting to opt, which it did the next evening in the bars offcampus. There were windows broken and trash cans set on fire. The real problem with that demonstration was it convinced
Headquarters for the entire communist military operation. This control center has been occupied by the north vietnamese and viet cong for five years in blatant violation of cambodias neutrality. This is not an invasion of cambodia. The areas in which these attacks will be launched are completely occupied and controlled by north vietnamese forces. Our purpose is not to occupy the areas. When enemy forces are driven out of these sanctuaries and win their military supplies are destroyed, we will withdraw. These actions are in no way directed to the security interests of any nation. Any government that chooses to use these as a pretext for harming relations with the United States will be doing so on its own responsibility and initiative and we will draw the appropriate conclusions. And now, let me give you the reasons for my decision. A majority of the American People, a majority of you listening to me, are for the withdrawal of our forces from vietnam. The action i have taken tonight is i
I have parked in that parking lot. I have walked across it. Ive talked to my friends while walking across it. Theres something incredibly powerful about something that people encounter daily, having such a wound located there. I really am grateful that i have been able to attend kent state. Ive been able to exist in that space. It fires me up, honestly, every time i see it, to just keep fighting. Because some of the things they were fighting for back then, we are still fighting now. Complacency is not a privilege that we can afford. A law hello, my name is todd dai akin. It is my great honor and raw privilege to service you do not have to be a historian to understand the place of Kent State University and the history of modern america. But i am a historian and i do appreciate both the seminal place of our university and our nations history. And our ongoing responsibility to share this history and the lessons of may four, 1970. It is also my great honor to announce the creation of four