This We Know: A Chronology of the Shootings at Kent State, May 1970

by Carole A. Barbato (Editor), Laura L. Davis (Editor), Mark F. Seeman (Editor)

The events that led up to and include the shootings of May 4, 1970 are part of a story that continues to be written. This We Know succinctly documents the facts that fill out the chronology of events of the four fateful days that ended with members of the Ohio National Guard wounding nine Kent State students and killing Sandra Scheuer, Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, and William Schroeder. This We Know gathers well-established information from recorded accounts―from the time they happened through what has been learned since.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical

60 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2012

About the author

Carole A. Barbato was a Communication Studies professor at the Kent State University. She published a book, several book chapters, and a number of journal articles in her field, including an article on the Kent State shootings in the Journal of Loss and Trauma. Her greatest professional accomplishment came on October 19, 2012, with the opening of the Kent State University May 4th Visitor's Center.

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since it is the fifty year anniversary of this tragedy, and because I have read Deboraj Wile's good YA tretament, Kent State, and because I was reading Derf Backderf's fine comics history.I decided ot order this, for a straightforward and concise account of what hapened May 4 and the events leading up to the murders of four unarmed students and rhe injuring of nine others at Kent State University, as protests across the world aginst Nixon's acceleration of the Viet Nam War increased everywhere.

As youcan imagine, these killings created the largest student protest in history, where more (unarmed) students also got shot and killed or injured. And as with our BLM summer of 2020, there are many including Nixon and the mainstream media who sided with the National Guard and blamed the (unarmed) students, most of whom were shot at a distance of more than two football fields away while carrying their books to their next class.

This book was researched and written by Carole Barbatos, a professor of Communications, and Laura Davis, a Professor of English who was a witnes to the shottings. It's a dispassionate chronicle of one sad time in American history. I used it as aguide to the factual account of evenst against which I read Wiles's and Derf's books. And to reflect on how people with guns continue to fire on unarmed people, some of them our children. And whether any of the murdered were "inncoent" seems hardly the point where killing is concerned, seems to me.

[Tom Bilcze · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the rest of the story... As a Kent State 1976 graduate, the aftermath was everpresent in my college years, 1972-1976. This book is a very detailed scenario of the days leading up to and including May 4. this gave me a better and new perspective into this tragedy that I thought I knew well. The book presented the facts with much-supporting research. The authors were knowledgable and presented the topic in an unbiased way.

[Karen Gedeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This We Know: A Chronology of the Shootings at Kent State, May 1970 by Carole A Barbato, Laura L. Davis and Mark F Seeman. This short (30 some pages), fact based book clearly narrates the events of the weekend which led up to, as well as the events before, during and after the shootings on May 4th, 1970. Includes Aftermath, Impact, black and white photos, an extensive list of source notes, further reading and information, What is the meaning of May 4 for today? And information on the authors. Makes a great place to start when researching the event.

[Amy Lively · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, to-the-point overview of the Ohio National Guard’s assault on the students of Kent State on May 4, 1970. The authors offer the highlights of important primary source documents of that tragic day. Perhaps the most import takeaway is a reminder that the protests and events of the weekend leading up to the shootings are not the *cause* of the shootings. Recommended for anyone wanting to learn more or needing a quick summary of events.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written chronological blow by blow account of the Kent State shooting that occurred in May 4th, 1970. Contrary to myth that the guardsmen were out-numbered and surrounded by students, protesting against what’s happening in Cambodia, and were intimidated into opening fire. The evidence showed differently. Just go read this account and find out for yourself why.