The Kent State Shootings and What Came Before

In reviewing all the books written about the Kent State shootings, I’ve noticed two things. First, all do a fine job of discussing the events of that first week of May 1970. Second, the majority examine conspiracy and cover-up theories and the civil and criminal trials. None that I have found do much in providing readers with a detailed his-torical background to the event.

I am not implying the conspiracy/cover-up books, or the highly questionable court proceedings, aren’t important. However, young folks reading about the event for the first time need some frame of reference in which to approach the subject. If there is anything new I bring to the body of writing about Kent State, it will be a brief overview of what came before.

David B. McCoy
Kent State, 1990