May 4th Commemoration
by Abigail Saturday, May. 06, 2006 at 9:49 PM

On Thursday May 4, there was an annual commemoration of the May 4th shootings at Kent State University where four students were shot and killed and nine were wounded during a series of protests against the ongoing war in Vietnam and specifically the US invasion of Cambodia. The May 4th task force sponsored the event which took place on the University campus. The crowd was sparse. Even though the whole university cancelled classes from noon until 2pm, hardly anyone showed up.

May 4th, then and NOW--- "We're not here for May 4, 1970. This is May 4, 2006. May 4th has nothing to do with us. I'm not marching for the four white students who died. My concern is for each and every one of you. They don't want us here today. They don't care about us. They told us not to march today. " Those were the words of one of the members of the Black United Students, a student group on Kent campus. During the commemoration, a band of black students came through, marching with signs about unity, solidarity, and justice. They marched up past the commemoration on the sidewalk and once past, continued their chanting and march. I joined up with them and was able to talk to Dr. Dorsey, a professor of Pan African studies at Kent who was quietly and purposefully following the student march. "When black people have issues, they are silenced", he said. "When white people march, they are exercising their democratic rights. When black people march, they are considered a disruption. Nothing has changed at Kent State."

After some questions, I was able to find out the reason for the march. A few black and white students got into a brawl over the weekend in town. The black students were arrested but later released of all charges. Despite their declared innocence by the law, the school still expelled them, citing they are a threat to the safety and security of the students. BUS is supporting these students and called the spontaneous march in response to the administrations' actions. They ended up outside of the building where the president of the school has her office. More people spoke:

"This is 2006, we are still being brought down. Wake up my people! What are you gonna do? I'm tired of being ran over, ignored, and walked over. Do you hear me?"

"These people don't care that you are out here. You people are gonna go home, go out and party. Keep this fire going. We are a family here. We have a responsibility to each other. It our time, your time. "

The speakers were emotionally charged. Discrimination and racism is still going on today and the backs of those it is falling upon are breaking. Its a hard load to bare.

After we were outside of the administration building for close to an hour, they sent word out that they would arrange a meeting with BUS representatives at 9pm that night on campus. The crowd dispersed and we imc'stas went back to the May 4th rally which was just ending.

The march was about to begin. We strapped on our bucket drums and hit the streets. There was a good number of people who marched. The crowd was a mix of anarchists, communists, socialists, world can't wait people, old hippies, Kent residents, and students. We ended downtown. The was an open mic set up and many people spoke. After that little rally was over and everyone was leaving, a small group of us marched back to campus with our signs and drums, making a ruckus and having some fun.

I think one of the reasons there was such a low turn-out to the May 4th commemoration is because the event is outdated and somewhat stale and boring. Yes, it was a tragedy that those students got shot and killed but lets look at the bigger picture here. Lets look at the problem of police brutality in this country and a population who favors politicians who are "tough on crime", labeling anyone who voices dissent as criminal. Those are the issues they faced back then and we are still facing those issues today.
I'm happy they commemorate what happened on May 4th every year. I think its a good idea. But to spend over an hour recalling the past and those who died makes no sense to me.
May 4th then and now. Now is what we are fighting for.

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