[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 5, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3144-H3145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMEMORATING 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY SHOOTINGS

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1272) commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 
4, 1970, Kent State University shootings.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1272

       Whereas the year 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of the 
     Kent State University shootings that occurred on May 4, 1970;
       Whereas, on such date, Ohio National Guardsmen opened fire 
     on Kent State students who were protesting the United States 
     invasion of Cambodia and the ongoing Vietnam War;
       Whereas four unarmed students (Allison Krause, Jeffrey 
     Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder) were killed 
     and nine others (Alan Canfora, John Cleary, Thomas Grace, 
     Dean Kahler, Joseph Lewis, Donald MacKenzie, James Russell, 
     Robert Stamps, and Douglas Wrentmore) were injured;
       Whereas the site of the May 4 shootings was entered in the 
     National Register of Historic Places, the official list of 
     the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation, in 
     February 2010;
       Whereas, to preserve the memory of the May 4 shootings and 
     encourage inquiry, learning, and reflection, Kent State has 
     established a number of resources, including the May 4 
     Memorial, individual student memorial markers and 
     scholarships in memory of the four students mentioned above 
     who were killed, an experimental college course entitled 
     ``May 4, 1970 and its Aftermath'', and an annual 
     commemoration sponsored by the May 4 Task Force; and
       Whereas Kent State has engaged the internationally renowned 
     design services firm, Gallagher & Associates, to assist in 
     the development of the May 4 visitors center as a central 
     place where individuals can explore and better understand the 
     May 4 shootings: Now therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives, in 
     commemoration of the 40th year anniversary of the Kent State 
     University shootings that occurred on May 4, 1970--
       (1) recognizes the tragedy of the May 4 shootings and the 
     implications that the shootings have had not only on Kent 
     State and the local community, but also on the Nation and the 
     world; and
       (2) applauds the development of the May 4 visitors center 
     as an additional primary resource to preserve and communicate 
     the history of the May 4 shootings, its larger ethical and 
     societal context and impact, and its enduring meaning for our 
     democratic Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days in which Members 
may revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into 
the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Kent State 
University shootings. On May 4, 1970, members of the Ohio National 
Guard fired into a crowd of unarmed student demonstrators, killing four 
and wounding nine students.
  Antiwar protests broke out on college campuses nationwide on Friday, 
May 1, following the announcement of the U.S. invasion of Cambodia as 
part of the Vietnam War. At Kent State University, students assembled 
in protest throughout the weekend. On May 4, the number of protesters 
grew in size until approximately 3,000 demonstrators and spectators 
were gathered on the commons area of the university. Ohio National 
Guardsmen, who were brought in as the protest grew, began firing in 
their direction.
  Those who were lost that day were Allison Krause, a 19-year-old 
freshman honors student; Jeffrey Miller, a 20-year-old student who had 
recently transferred to the school; Sandra Scheuer, also 20, was simply 
walking to class with a friend when she came in the line of a bullet 
fired; and William Schroeder, who was not part of the protest and also 
on his way to class, died with schoolwork in his hands. In addition to 
those who perished, nine students were injured: Alan Canfora, John 
Cleary, Thomas Grace, Dean Kahler, Joseph Lewis, Donald MacKenzie, 
James Russell, Robert Stamps, and Douglas Wrentmore. All survived, but 
their lives were forever changed.
  The site of the tragic campus shootings that occurred 40 years ago 
was just recently entered into the National Register of Historic 
Places, the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of 
preservation. In order to preserve the memory of the May 4 shootings 
and encourage inquiry, learning and reflection, Kent State has 
established a May 4 memorial, as well as individual student memorial 
markers and scholarships in memory of the four students who lost their 
lives that day.
  The university has also begun steps in the development of a May 4 
visitors center which will serve as a central place where individuals 
can explore and better understand the shootings that took place on that 
terrible day.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I express my support for House Resolution 
1272 and the development of the May 4 visitors center as an additional 
primary resource to preserve and communicate the history of the May 4 
shootings, its larger ethical and societal context and impact, and its 
enduring meaning for our democratic Nation.
  I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) for bringing this bill 
forward, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H3145]]

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  House Resolution 1272 commemorates the 40th anniversary of the May 4, 
1970, Kent State University shootings. On May 4, 1970, people gathered 
at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, protesting American involvement 
in Vietnam. Hostilities escalated and four students, Allison Krause, 
Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder, were shot, and 
nine others were injured. This year, 2010, marks the 40th anniversary 
of this tragic event.
  The event will always be remembered and has been commemorated in 
several ways. The site of the shooting, as has been mentioned, has been 
entered in the National Register of Historic Places. Kent State 
University has established memorial markers, scholarships in memory of 
the students, a collegiate course on the events and effects of the 
shootings, and an annual commemoration. Kent State has also begun to 
design a visitors center to help people explore and understand the 
event.
  The death and injuries that resulted from the May 4 shootings at Kent 
State are no doubt tragic. Kent State University, the National Guard, 
and this Nation have learned from the events, and have worked to ensure 
it does not happen again. The shootings evoked a national response and 
had far-reaching effects.
  It is important that we commemorate the students who were at Kent 
State University that day, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ryan) for 2 minutes.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady.
  Forty years ago yesterday, May 4, 1970, Ohio National Guardsmen 
opened fired on students at Kent State University who were protesting 
the U.S. invasion of Cambodia and the ongoing war in Vietnam. Four 
unarmed students, Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and 
William Schroeder, were killed. Nine others, Alan John, Thomas, Dean, 
Joseph, Donald, James, Robert and Douglas, were injured at the noon-
time rally. These students were exercising their right guaranteed by 
the United States Constitution to freely assemble and dissent from 
their government. The Kent State shootings were followed 10 days later 
by the shootings of two students protesting at Jackson State College in 
Mississippi.
  The tragedy at Kent State has had a broad resonance in American 
history. Richard Nixon's former chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, wrote in 
his book ``The Ends of Power'' that the Kent State shootings began the 
slide into the Watergate crisis, eventually dooming the Nixon 
Presidency. The shootings led to an uptick in student protests across 
the country, which prompted Richard Nixon to push for a series of 
unconstitutional moves to target his political enemies. These 
culminated in the Watergate break-in 2 years after the Kent State 
shootings.
  Kent State University has established a number of resources to honor 
the 13 students shot on May 4, 1970. The university has established the 
May 4 Memorial; Kent B'nai B'rith Hillel Marker; individual student 
markers and scholarships in memory of Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, 
Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder; May 4 collections maintained by 
the university libraries, the department of art, and the Kent State 
Museum; the Center for Peaceful Change, now rededicated as the Center 
for Applied Conflict Management; and an experimental college course 
entitled ``May 4, 1970 and Its Aftermath''; an annual Symposium on 
Democracy; annual commemorations sponsored by the May 4 Task Force; and 
recognition of the site on the National Register of Historic Places.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Ms. CHU. I yield the gentleman an additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. We were honored, Mr. Speaker, several nights ago to 
have our colleague, John Lewis, attend and serve as the keynote speaker 
of the 40th anniversary of the May 4 shootings. He delivered a 
passionate, insightful speech, keynote address, which the people of 
Kent State University and the city of Kent enjoyed. But as we were 
milling around after, there has always been this tension between what 
happened at Kent State that day and the community and the students, and 
one person said this brought healing to Kent and Kent State, and that 
is what John Lewis has done for us, and I hope this resolution in some 
way helps to continue the healing process.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Resolution 1272, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1272.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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