May 4, a day when most Kent State University students, past and present, take a step back to memorialize and remember the four students who lost their lives when 28 members of the Ohio National Guard fired into a group of student demonstrators.
This year, the memorial, in my opinion, was overlooked, and the true meaning behind the day was disregarded. A student task force here at KSU decided that the theme of this year’s memorial would be “Black Lives Matter: Long Live the Spirit of Kent State and Jackson State." This theme confused many, including myself. No, I am not a racist, this confusion stemmed from the thought that shouldn’t all lives matter on this day? Why should we take a day that had nothing to do with race or discrimination and lose sight of what really matters; remembering the ones who are no longer with us?
The actions by the students around me made me sick; instead of coming together as one university that day, they took sides and made it a battle of race and what was right and wrong. When speaking with a friend, he had mentioned that a girl he knew had posted a generalized tweet about her feelings concerning the theme and within minutes was receiving countless death treats and violent verbal attacks via the internet. This truly goes to show you that not all students understood the true meaning, how could you threaten to take the life of someone else for voicing their opinion on a day set aside to remember people who were taken for doing the same. If you are a student at KSU or watch the news I am sure you caught glimpse of the rock that day. Throughout the day the rock was painted, and repainted time and time again, plastered with things like, “Cop’s Lives Matter” and “Black Lives Matter,” but not once was it decorated for the students of May 4. At one point in the day, students were even standing guard next to the rock to make sure the point they were trying to prove was not covered. The only thing painted on the rock that day that I began to side with was “Shame on you KSU, All Lives Matter." But isn’t this the truth?
Other than the controversy at the rock, the day was centered around the memorial speaker, Samaria Rice. She spoke out about racism and justice for her son Tamir Rice. One thing stated in her speech was, "Racism is a disease, you are not born with racism. You were taught racism." A speech that I believe was worthwhile but not appropriate for the day and the people who were supposed to be honored. If someone were to look through the photos from May 4, they would most likely see it as a rally for Black Lives Matter, because not much more was mentioned. Overall, I think it was a shame that people took their own personal views and put them ahead of the true meaning of the day and the purpose of the memorial. At a time when we should have all stood together as a unified university equally affected, we divided ourselves.
Let this be an example that All Lives Matter, not one single individual is more significant than another. Although we are all entitled to freedom of speech, I think it is respectful to realize when it is appropriate to voice this to its fullest. The day after, I decided to walk through the memorial, which I believe all KSU students should take the time to do. Experience the true meaning of May 4, see the day for what it really was. Set aside your feelings about racial issues and right and wrong and realize that people lost their lives that day within the blink of an eye.
Always Remember, Never Forget, May 4, 1970
