And at Kent State, on May 4th, 1970 they did.
The above photograph is by Tom Geil from his time as a reporter/photographer for the Portland State University Vanguard student paper. It was taken during the Portland police riot of 1970.
What started earlier in the prior week as a protest against the police and killing of students on May 4th at Kent State, had turned violent before my very lens on May 11, 1970. I was stunned, and for the first time in my sheltered life I experienced the hate that can erupt over into uncontrollable rage.
The full caption of the photo reads:
"I am a law abiding citizen. Why don't you shoot these commie-loving, long-haired hippy freaks? How can you let them get by with this?"
I had been out of the Army for a little over a month and wondered down to see what was happening. I wasn’t ready for what I saw and beat a hasty retreat. In retrospect I wish I would have stayed to witness the whole event because Kent State was a birthday gift to me from the powers that be which would color my outlook for the rest of my life.
And I might have run into my mentor Sean Slattery as he lead the protest parade later that week.
Lately it occurs to me what a long, strange trip its been.