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Campus "Unrest" demonstrations and consequences, 1970-1971

1971-11-12 American Report: Review of Religion and American Power Page 25

AMERICAN REPORT  21-S

by Carolya Wilhelm

   In the state of Ohio, across this nation, and even in other parts of the world, church groups and individual church members reacted in disbelief and horror last year at Kent State University to the killing of four and injuring of nine others by the Ohio National Guard. 
   The emotional impact of President Nixon's announcement on the evening of April 30 that he was sending men and material into Cambodia, was compouned on May 4 by the hail of bullets from guardmens' rifles and the resulting injuries and deaths. Questions of "why" and "what now" keep echoing in the academic halls of the nation's colleges and universities, and must also be heard in church sanctuaries in this country.
   Following is a brief accounting of [italics]some[/italics] actions taken by church groups in Ohio and nationally.
   [bold]May 14, 1970[/bold]: The General Board of the Ohio Council of Churches takes a two-fold action in response to shootings at Kent State:
    1  To support Sen. Stephen Young's request for an investigation into circumstances of the Kent State deaths and its statewide implications, including the role of the National Guard in such crisis situations;
   2  To encourage local analysis by campus ministries into basic causes of violence, or lack of it, on campuses in Ohio, and to send the findings to judicatories for intensive discussions with students, faculty, and administration.
   To facilitate this discussion the Ohio Council of Churches co-published a report with the Ohio United Ministries in Higher Education, "Disruption on the Campuses of Ohio Colleges and University," prepared by Russell Dynes and E.L. Quarantelli, in September 1970. This report, describing the May 4 event at Kent State, stated: "The interaction between the Guard and students was almost like choreography, and one had the feeling that a sporting event was in progress. The Guard turned and marched in formation to the top of Taylor Hall hill. There seemed to be no warning and no evidence of a sniper. The result of firing was four dead and nine wounded."
   [bold]October 23, 1970[/bold]:  At a joint meeting of the Kent (ohio) Ministerial Association and Kent State Campus Ministries, a public statement was issued regarding the report just one week earlier from the special State grand jury which Gov. James Rhodes had authorized. That grand jury had indicted 25 persons (students and faculty) and completely exonerated the Guard. It had also written a report with the jury's own analysis of events at Kent, placing all responsibility on the university administration.
   Clergy in Kent were profoundly disturbed at the obvious inadequacies of the grand jury action, and they issued a public statement enumerating some of the areas for special concern. These included the air of unreality and isolation in which the grand jury worked (not taking seriously the Scranton Commission findings which had been issued a month earlier about the roots of campus unrest). The ministers therefore, added their voice to the request for a Federal Grand Jury.
[bold]March-June, 1971[/bold]: During the winter months citizens awaited word form the Justice Department regarding Federal action. On March 21, 1971, a Washington newspaper reported a "leak" from the Justice Department indicating that there would no no Federal investigation into the Kent shootings.
   Immediately, a task force of a Washington-based church group (the Washington Interreligious Staff Council (W.I.S.C.), secured an appointment with the Justice Department officials to inquire about this report and to urge action by the Federal government. Several times over several weeks these church representatives were assured that a decision regarding a Federal investigation had not yet been reached.
   Church representatives in Washington also discussed the issues with several Senators and Congressmen who also had been attempting to get Federal action regarding Kent. 
[bold] May 4, 1971[/bold]: At the one-year anniversary of the shooting, four Union of American Hebrew Congregations, National Council of Churches, United Methodist Board of Christian Social religious groups joined in a "Call for an Accounting," calling for a Federal Grand Jury to investigate the many serious unanswered questions regarding events surrounding Kent State. The [italics]document[/italics] was signed by the Concerns, and the Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Missions. It was repeated on May 14, anniversary of the shootings at Jackson State, after a memorial service in Washington for the Kent and Jackson victims.

[bold]June 21, 1971[/bold]: Through the Department of Law, Justice Community Relations of the United Methodist Board of Christian Social Concerns, "An Appeal for Justice," privately written and researched report on the shootings at Kent State (authored by Peter Davies) was submitted to Justice Department officials. It questions the National Guards' version of the shooting, and calls again for Government intervention.

[bold]During July[/bold] the W.I.S.C. pressed for further discussion with Justice Department officials, but after several attempts, failed to get an appointment. On August 13, Attorney General John Mitchell said the killings were "unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable", but that no further action would be taken by the Justice Department.

[bold]September 11, 1971[/bold]: The General Board of National Council of Churches adopted a resolution based on its 1963 policy statement on Human Rights, urging the Attorney General to reconsider his decision and call a Federal Grand Jury "for weighing the charges of conspiracy and murder brought against Ohio Guardsmen and authorities;" to take Federal action to propose additional legislation to insure protection of citizens from violence by persons acting under color of law; and that Congress also investigate the ramifications of lawful protection to citizens; and that legal action be pursued by the families of students killed, injured, and indicted. The N.C.C. offices were authorized, also, to receive and disburse any contributions for securing justice in the Kent State cases.

[bold]September 15, 1971[/bold]: General Board of the Ohio Council of Churches reexamines its position one year earlier regarding action on the Kent shootings, and decides to establish a seven-person committee to consider additional steps which might yet be taken by the Ohio Council. This special committee will be reporting at the General Board meeting in November, and it is considering, among other questions, whether a U.S. Senate or House investigation should be encouraged at this time; and, how and under what conditions can all factual records (the full F.B.I. report, etc.) be made available to attorneys involved in pending law suits.
_____________________
Looking Forward with Hope
(Cont. from p. 20-S0
ing with upraised finger, and another student just behind him ducking for the railing. Now, why can't we have Canterbury explain exactly what he means when he claims a mob was about to pour upon the Guards, and have him show us in the photo where this mob is. Why do the American people fear the truth?

[italics]Could Kent State ever happen in England?[/italics]
   No. Under no circumstances would armed troops be sent on students. To start with, we don't have armed police, so even if you'd dared have a situation on such as you had at Kent where local police are called in, they wouldn't be armed. And this is why something radically is wrong with this country-that you can just send out combat troops.

[italics]Do you see any signs that things are going to turn around-that peace and justice will become a reality?[/italics]
   Not with this Administration. There's no sincerity in this Administration whatsoever. There were a few, but they have quit or were fired. And certainly not after the F.B.I.'s arrogant display of contempt for human life at the Jacksonville Airport. 

[italics]So it's not the system, it's the national leadership..[/italics]
   Yes. Like a Congressional aide siad to me, "there's no such thing as Government-there're only politicians." And that's true. They see everybody in votes, not in terms of justice, or right or wrong.

[italics]Are you cynical or pessimistic today? Do you want to return to England?[/italics]
   No.

[italics]Do you believe that Kent State eventually will have a full hearing before the general public?[/italics]
   Yes. And I think the American people, once they get the truth presented to them, fairly and properly, without all the shennanigans that have gone on in the last year and a half, will overwhelmingly say that what we've been doing is right.

[italics]They'll rise to the occasion?[/italics]
   Definitely. I've always felt the American people were just like the British people: they're fair. Provided they get the facts-and they haven't got the facts yet.

[italics]A final question: Has your involvement in the Kent State incident altered the way you relate to your own children?[/italics]
   No. I read something that this Col. (Anthony) Herbert said, and I feel the same. He said he would do it all again if he had to because when his children grow up he has to account for his principles. Well, that's how I feel, the same way. When my kids grow up, and Kent State is an issue-and it's going to be, no question of that-how can I face my kids when they say, "what did you do about it?" and I reply, "well, I didn't do much." "What do you mean you didn't do anything about it?" I couldn't have that. Knowing how I felt, I couldn't face them at 18 and 19 and...
   And, yet many students ask, "What's the point?" This is the trouble. They say, "What's the point, we can't do anything about it, it doesn't matter." Well the point is, you can do something about it, and Greg Rambo and Paul Keane of Kent State proved how you can when they obtained over 10,000 signatures to a petition for a Federal Grand Jury and this week, along with Dr. Olds, presented it to the White House.

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AMERICAN REPORT 21-S by Carolya Wilhelm In the state of Ohio, across this nation, and even in other parts of the world, church groups and individual church members reacted in disbelief and horror last year at Kent State University to the killing of four and injuring of nine others by the Ohio National Guard. The emotional impact of President Nixon's announcement on the evening of April 30 that he was sending men and material into Cambodia, was compouned on May 4 by the hail of bullets from guardmens' rifles and the resulting injuries and deaths. Questions of "why" and "what now" keep echoing in the academic halls of the nation's colleges and universities, and must also be heard in church sanctuaries in this country. Following is a brief accounting of [italics]some[/italics] actions taken by church groups in Ohio and nationally. [bold]May 14, 1970[/bold]: The General Board of the Ohio Council of Churches takes a two-fold action in response to shootings at Kent State: 1 To support Sen. Stephen Young's request for an investigation into circumstances of the Kent State deaths and its statewide implications, including the role of the National Guard in such crisis situations; 2 To encourage local analysis by campus ministries into basic causes of violence, or lack of it, on campuses in Ohio, and to send the findings to judicatories for intensive discussions with students, faculty, and administration. To facilitate this discussion the Ohio Council of Churches co-published a report with the Ohio United Ministries in Higher Education, "Disruption on the Campuses of Ohio Colleges and University," prepared by Russell Dynes and E.L. Quarantelli, in September 1970. This report, describing the May 4 event at Kent State, stated: "The interaction between the Guard and students was almost like choreography, and one had the feeling that a sporting event was in progress. The Guard turned and marched in formation to the top of Taylor Hall hill. There seemed to be no warning and no evidence of a sniper. The result of firing was four dead and nine wounded." [bold]October 23, 1970[/bold]: At a joint meeting of the Kent (ohio) Ministerial Association and Kent State Campus Ministries, a public statement was issued regarding the report just one week earlier from the special State grand jury which Gov. James Rhodes had authorized. That grand jury had indicted 25 persons (students and faculty) and completely exonerated the Guard. It had also written a report with the jury's own analysis of events at Kent, placing all responsibility on the university administration. Clergy in Kent were profoundly disturbed at the obvious inadequacies of the grand jury action, and they issued a public statement enumerating some of the areas for special concern. These included the air of unreality and isolation in which the grand jury worked (not taking seriously the Scranton Commission findings which had been issued a month earlier about the roots of campus unrest). The ministers therefore, added their voice to the request for a Federal Grand Jury. [bold]March-June, 1971[/bold]: During the winter months citizens awaited word form the Justice Department regarding Federal action. On March 21, 1971, a Washington newspaper reported a "leak" from the Justice Department indicating that there would no no Federal investigation into the Kent shootings. Immediately, a task force of a Washington-based church group (the Washington Interreligious Staff Council (W.I.S.C.), secured an appointment with the Justice Department officials to inquire about this report and to urge action by the Federal government. Several times over several weeks these church representatives were assured that a decision regarding a Federal investigation had not yet been reached. Church representatives in Washington also discussed the issues with several Senators and Congressmen who also had been attempting to get Federal action regarding Kent. [bold] May 4, 1971[/bold]: At the one-year anniversary of the shooting, four Union of American Hebrew Congregations, National Council of Churches, United Methodist Board of Christian Social religious groups joined in a "Call for an Accounting," calling for a Federal Grand Jury to investigate the many serious unanswered questions regarding events surrounding Kent State. The [italics]document[/italics] was signed by the Concerns, and the Women's Division of the United Methodist Board of Missions. It was repeated on May 14, anniversary of the shootings at Jackson State, after a memorial service in Washington for the Kent and Jackson victims. [bold]June 21, 1971[/bold]: Through the Department of Law, Justice Community Relations of the United Methodist Board of Christian Social Concerns, "An Appeal for Justice," privately written and researched report on the shootings at Kent State (authored by Peter Davies) was submitted to Justice Department officials. It questions the National Guards' version of the shooting, and calls again for Government intervention. [bold]During July[/bold] the W.I.S.C. pressed for further discussion with Justice Department officials, but after several attempts, failed to get an appointment. On August 13, Attorney General John Mitchell said the killings were "unnecessary, unwarranted, and inexcusable", but that no further action would be taken by the Justice Department. [bold]September 11, 1971[/bold]: The General Board of National Council of Churches adopted a resolution based on its 1963 policy statement on Human Rights, urging the Attorney General to reconsider his decision and call a Federal Grand Jury "for weighing the charges of conspiracy and murder brought against Ohio Guardsmen and authorities;" to take Federal action to propose additional legislation to insure protection of citizens from violence by persons acting under color of law; and that Congress also investigate the ramifications of lawful protection to citizens; and that legal action be pursued by the families of students killed, injured, and indicted. The N.C.C. offices were authorized, also, to receive and disburse any contributions for securing justice in the Kent State cases. [bold]September 15, 1971[/bold]: General Board of the Ohio Council of Churches reexamines its position one year earlier regarding action on the Kent shootings, and decides to establish a seven-person committee to consider additional steps which might yet be taken by the Ohio Council. This special committee will be reporting at the General Board meeting in November, and it is considering, among other questions, whether a U.S. Senate or House investigation should be encouraged at this time; and, how and under what conditions can all factual records (the full F.B.I. report, etc.) be made available to attorneys involved in pending law suits. _____________________ Looking Forward with Hope (Cont. from p. 20-S0 ing with upraised finger, and another student just behind him ducking for the railing. Now, why can't we have Canterbury explain exactly what he means when he claims a mob was about to pour upon the Guards, and have him show us in the photo where this mob is. Why do the American people fear the truth? [italics]Could Kent State ever happen in England?[/italics] No. Under no circumstances would armed troops be sent on students. To start with, we don't have armed police, so even if you'd dared have a situation on such as you had at Kent where local police are called in, they wouldn't be armed. And this is why something radically is wrong with this country-that you can just send out combat troops. [italics]Do you see any signs that things are going to turn around-that peace and justice will become a reality?[/italics] Not with this Administration. There's no sincerity in this Administration whatsoever. There were a few, but they have quit or were fired. And certainly not after the F.B.I.'s arrogant display of contempt for human life at the Jacksonville Airport. [italics]So it's not the system, it's the national leadership..[/italics] Yes. Like a Congressional aide siad to me, "there's no such thing as Government-there're only politicians." And that's true. They see everybody in votes, not in terms of justice, or right or wrong. [italics]Are you cynical or pessimistic today? Do you want to return to England?[/italics] No. [italics]Do you believe that Kent State eventually will have a full hearing before the general public?[/italics] Yes. And I think the American people, once they get the truth presented to them, fairly and properly, without all the shennanigans that have gone on in the last year and a half, will overwhelmingly say that what we've been doing is right. [italics]They'll rise to the occasion?[/italics] Definitely. I've always felt the American people were just like the British people: they're fair. Provided they get the facts-and they haven't got the facts yet. [italics]A final question: Has your involvement in the Kent State incident altered the way you relate to your own children?[/italics] No. I read something that this Col. (Anthony) Herbert said, and I feel the same. He said he would do it all again if he had to because when his children grow up he has to account for his principles. Well, that's how I feel, the same way. When my kids grow up, and Kent State is an issue-and it's going to be, no question of that-how can I face my kids when they say, "what did you do about it?" and I reply, "well, I didn't do much." "What do you mean you didn't do anything about it?" I couldn't have that. Knowing how I felt, I couldn't face them at 18 and 19 and... And, yet many students ask, "What's the point?" This is the trouble. They say, "What's the point, we can't do anything about it, it doesn't matter." Well the point is, you can do something about it, and Greg Rambo and Paul Keane of Kent State proved how you can when they obtained over 10,000 signatures to a petition for a Federal Grand Jury and this week, along with Dr. Olds, presented it to the White House.