Kent State Shootings - 42 Years Later Questions Still Linger

[MuffyBee]

http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/justice-dept-will-not-reopen-investigation-of-1970-kent-state-shootings/42637
Justice Dept. Will Not Reopen Investigation of 1970 Kent State Shootings
April 24, 2012

The U.S. Justice Department has refused to reopen an investigation into the May 4, 1970, shootings at Kent State University, in which four students were shot dead by Ohio National Guard troops, The Plain Dealer reported today. In a letter to a survivor of the shootings released on Monday, a Justice Department official said a newly discovered audiotape of the incident was inconclusive as to whether an altercation shortly before the shootings accounted for the National Guard troops’ readiness to open fire on unarmed students who were protesting the Vietnam War.
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://chronicle.com/article/Forgotten-Recording-of-Kent/38751/
Forgotten Recording of Kent State Massacre Contains Order to Shoot, Survivor Says
April 30, 2012

A student who was wounded in the shootings at Kent State University, 37 years ago this week, is urging the federal government to reopen its investigation of the tragedy, in which four students were shot to death by Ohio National Guardsmen during an antiwar protest. According to the Associated Press, Alan Canfora, who was shot in the right wrist, says a previously overlooked audio recording of the shootings seems to contain the sound of an order to fire. Mr. Canfora says the key words are: “Right here! Get set! Point! Fire!”
 ::snipping2::

[MuffyBee]

http://www.cleveland.com/science/index.ssf/2012/04/justice_department_wont_re-ope.html
Justice Department won't reopen probe of 1970 Kent State shootings
By John Mangels, The Plain Dealer
April 24, 2012

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The U.S. Justice Department has declined to reopen its investigation of the 1970 Kent State shootings by Ohio National Guardsmen, citing legal obstacles to further prosecutions and doubts about new evidence reported by The Plain Dealer in 2010.

"There are insurmountable legal and evidentiary barriers to bringing a second federal case in this matter," Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez wrote in a letter made public Monday announcing the agency's decision. (Read the full text of the letter in the document viewer below)

An audio tape of the shootings that the newspaper reported may contain provocative sounds, pistol shots and an order for the Guard to fire is inconclusive, Perez said, citing an FBI analysis of the tape.

Alan Canfora, one of the wounded Kent State students and who, as director of the Kent May 4 Center has pushed for a full accounting of the tragedy, said he was disappointed but not surprised by the Justice Department's decision. Canfora and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland had requested the review after The Plain Dealer's reports were published.
 ::snipping2::
Stuart Allen, one of the forensic audio experts who two years ago examined the audio tape of the shooting at The Plain Dealer's request, said he was baffled by the FBI's conclusion that the recording is unintelligible. He said the FBI determination that what he interpreted as pistol shots were actually slamming doors was "beyond ludicrous."

The FBI referred questions to the Justice Department, which had not responded to a request for comment as of Monday night.
 ::snipping2::

(In article is a audio that can be clicked on):
"This excerpt from a copy of Terry Strubbe's Kent State recording contains the order for the Guard to prepare to fire. The word "Guard!" can be heard at 9.3 seconds. "All right, prepare to fire" begins at 19.5 seconds. "Get down!" is spoken at 22.3 seconds. The final "Guard!" is at 23.7 seconds, and the gunshots begin at 26 seconds. " 

[MuffyBee]

http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/may/04/events-at-ksu-today-mark-42nd-anniversar/?nw
Events at KSU today mark 42nd anniversary of campus shootings
May 4, 2012

Today marks the 42nd anniversary of the shootings on the Kent State University campus that killed four students, including Sandra Scheuer of Boardman.

The commemoration event, hosted by the May 4 Task Force, begins at noon today on the Commons, site of the shootings. This year’s theme is “Don’t Give Up the Fight!” Many speakers will discuss the effect of May 4 on the Kent State community, as well as college campuses nationwide.
 ::snipping2::
Each spring, Kent State inquires, learns and reflects on social, cultural and historical events through the annual Symposium on Democracy, held in commemoration of the events surrounding May 4, 1970. The symposium honors the memories of the four students — Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder — who lost their lives on that day, with an enduring dedication to scholarship that seeks to prevent violence and to promote democratic values and civil discourse.

[sharon]

Thanks for all you do and all you bring to us MuffyBee <3

I remember the event so clearly. Lost innocence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qs6aaaJBAv0

[MuffyBee]

Interesting view, but I don't agree with it.

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20120504/OPINION04/205040316/It-s-good-Kent-State-shooting-investigation-isn-t-being-reopened?odyssey=nav|head
It's good Kent State shooting investigation isn't being reopened
May 4, 2012

The U.S. Justice Department has opted not to reopen the 1970 Kent State shooting investigation. Four-plus decades have come and gone, so we agree with that decision.

The Justice Department based its decision on "insurmountable legal and evidentiary barriers" regarding the fatal shooting by the Ohio National Guardsmen during a Vietnam War protest at the university.
 ::snipping2::
Family members and loved ones of the Kent State victims have had 42 years to come to grips with a most sad and unfortunate occurrence. The pain never will cease, but it does lessen.

A new investigation will only open old wounds. We see no reason to revisit the tragedy, evoking more heartache.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.startribune.com/nation/150168315.html
On anniversary of Kent State shootings, 7 wounded call for answers to lingering questions
May 4, 2012