[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.
____________________