Commemorating May 4, 1970
Annual Commemoration
Kent State University will remember May 4, 1970, with its return to an in-person, annual commemoration to honor the four students who were killed, the nine students who were wounded and the countless others whose lives were forever changed when the Ohio National Guard fired on Kent State students during an anti-war protest.
Learn more about this year's Annual Commemoration
53rd Commemoration
Kent State University will remember May 4, 1970, with its return to an in-person, annual commemoration to honor the four students who were killed, the nine students who were wounded and the countless others whose lives were forever changed when the Ohio National Guard fired on Kent State students during an anti-war protest.
Learn more about the 53rd Annual Commemoration
52nd Commemoration
For the first time since 2019, Kent State University remembered May 4, 1970, with an in-person, annual commemoration to honor the four students who were killed, the nine students who were wounded and the countless others whose lives were forever changed when the Ohio National Guard fired on Kent State students during an anti-war protest.
The May 4, 2022 Commemoration theme was "The Power of Our Voices" in recognition of the many people throughout history who have used their voices to effect meaningful change.
Learn more about the 52nd Commemoration
51st Commemoration
Kent State University held a virtual May 4 51st Commemoration. The virtual commemoration featured a video that focused on the nine wounded students: Alan Canfora, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, Dean Kahler, Joseph Lewis, Donald Mackenzie, James Russell, Robert Stamps and Douglas Wrentmore.
Learn more about the 51st Commemoration
50th Commemoration
The 50th commemoration in 2020 not only remembered and honored those who lost their lives or were wounded, but it built on the lessons learned over the past 50 years to help inspire others for the next 50 years to continue the pursuits of freedom of expression and social activism.
Visit the 50th Commemoration Site
Commemorations by the Decades
The tragic events that occurred at Kent State University on May 4, 1970, in which the Ohio National Guard killed four students and wounded nine other students, had an enduring affect that has resonated for nearly 50 years. Explore photos from May 4, 1970 commemorations by decades.