Kent State…………..Revisited

The events of May 4, 1970 can be viewed here

 

William K Schroeder

July 20, 1950 – May 4, 1070

Sandra Lee Scheuer

August 11, 1949 – May 4, 1970

Jeffrey G Miller

March 28, 1950 – May 4, 1970

Allison Krause

April 21, 1951 – May 4, 1970

 

Who Killed Allison? Why? What has she done? Read by Barry Levine in honor of Allison Krause during the 30th Commemoration ceremonies. Not us says the KENT TOWNSFOLK Those rotten students thought this was some kind of joke Marchin’ and yellin’, and singing those songs, Why wasn’t she in class where she belonged? Her parents shoulda’ learned her better. Those stinkin’ kids-don’t appreciate what they’ve got If it had been up to us, they would have all been shot. You can say what you want, and say what you must Just don’t point your fingers at us We’re not the ones who made her fall No, you can’t blame us at all. WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not us says the UNIVERSITY That girl was here to get a degree To Inquire, To Learn, To reflect, and debate. It wasn’t her place to demonstrate – against the State If she had something, She should have had it clear In a paper, or in the classroom, where free speech is dear. And no one can hear, and no one can hear. Sure she was an honor student, but she should have known better Than to stand up and speak out in public, where did that get her? There is a time and a place for freedom of speech She should have known that because that’s what we teach but please, don’t’ point your finger at us We are not the ones that made her fall, No, you can’t blame us at all. WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not me says the MAYOR OF KENT If only those kids knew what it had meant To burn down ROTC- they left me no choice They were all chanting “End the war” in one loud voice I had to call the Guard- it was hard, it was hard, But I tell you, we needed Law and Order And anyway, she wasn’t my daughter It’s a a shame she had to die that day But when you throw rocks, well, that’s just the American way. I feel bad, I do, but I didn’t pull that trigger It wasn’t me that made her fall No, you can’t blame me at all. WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not me says TRICKY DICK I listened to my advisors, take your pick Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Mitchell and Dean Agnew, and Colson, they all knew the scene Those college kids were bums-they needed a lesson So I put out the word around this great land To stop those damn hoodlums any way that you can And Rhodes, he heard me, thank g-d for that He knew exactly what to do with that group of brats But you can’t pin it on me, don’t’ you see? It wasn’t’ me that made her fall No, you can’t blame me at all. WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not me says GOVERNOR RHODES The man who made this whole thing explode Yes, I’m the son of a bitch who pounded the table and ranted and raved until everyone was able to hear me call those students Brown Shirts, the worst element that we harbor in America today. But that was my job, to incite the Guard, and I did it OK If those kids wanted a riot to create, They picked the wrong town, they picked the wrong state. There will be no riots in the State of Ohio, not on my watch, not on this date Look, the Guard got my meaning, the Guard got my drift They did what they had to – they laid ’em out stiff. Its a shame it had to be that way, but who’s to know and who’s to say It might have been different had it not been election day. So what are you going to do? Sue me? I’m not the one that made the call And I’m not the one that made her fall So Fuck You, you can’t blame me at all. WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE Not us says the NATIONAL GUARD Who chased those kids across the yard, And through the fields so thick with gas With our bayonets fixed, it became certain, there was no doubt We would teach those little bastards what Law and Order was all about Yes, we’re the ones that climbed the hill and turned in our tracks And aimed our rifles dead center in her back But if we didn’t act, she would have overrun us for sure, There were snipers, she had rocks, and those curses that we endured. We had no choice, we had to act – it was her life or ours Yes we shot her in cold blood, it’s true, it’s true, But that is what we were told to do Don’t say “murder,” don’t’ say “kill” We were only following orders, it was the G-d’s will. WHO KILLED ALLISON, WHY, WHAT HAD SHE DONE?