RBG founding partner Sandy Rosen, who represented the families of the victims of the Kent State shootings as special counsel for the ACLU in the 1970’s, delivered the keynote address on Friday, May 4, 2012 in Kent, Ohio at the 42nd commemoration of the Kent State shootings.    Excerpts of the address were reprinted in The Recorder on May 4, “Seeking Justice in Their Memory.”  Full text of the speech is set out below.

On May 4, 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students participating in a demonstration against the Viet Nam War on the Kent State campus. Four students were killed and nine were wounded.   More information about the commemoration program and continuing efforts to reopen an investigation into the shootings is available at may4.org.

Rosen also participated in an educational forum the evening of May 3 on the Kent State campus that included civil rights activist Melba Pattillo Beals, one the Little Rock Nine students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957; Mark Seemans, KSU professor who facilitated May 4 site Historical Landmark recognition at the US Department of Interior; 1969 Kent State SDS leader Howie Emmer; and several survivors of the Kent State shootings.

Continue Reading Rosen Delivered Keynote Address at 42nd Commemoration of the Kent State Shootings