TOLEDO, Ohio — On Monday at noon, a group of Toledoans will be commemorating the 50th anniversary of the shootings at Kent State University.
On May 4, 1970 Ohio National Guardsman opened fire on Kent State students who were protesting the Vietnam War.
Four students were killed and nine others were wounded.
The ceremony will take place at the James Rhodes statue at One Government Center in downtown Toledo.
It will consist of music, speakers and a live-stream of the Kent State University commemoration ceremony.
Every year since the shootings a commemoration of the event has taken place on the Kent State University campus.
This year, due to coronavirus and the need for social distancing, the huge commemoration that had been planned had to be canceled.
15,000 – 20,000 people were expected to attend.
Roads will even be closed to discourage people from gathering on campus.
Instead, a virtual commemoration will be taking place.
It will include a virtual program at noon, a virtual candlelight vigil, special videos, online exhibits, interactive mobile apps and more.
The ceremony in Toledo will also honor two African-American youths who were killed when police opened fire on a group of students at Jackson State University in Mississippi, just ten days after the shootings at Kent State.
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