Posted 7 years ago
HippieArch…
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Being the 47th anniversary of the 1970 Kent State Massacre I want to show a recent acquisition. Instead of explaining it myself - this from the man, Sumner Stone who was there in Boston when this created:
EXTREMELY RARE, perhaps UNIQUE MAY 5th 1970 HAND-SERIGRAPHED POSTER (18.75" x 13.5") Replicating the FRONT PAGE of "THE BOSTON TRAVELER" that DATE. Depicting The now iconic photo of the YOUNG WOMAN KNEELING OVER THE BODY of ONE of the STUDENTS SLAIN at KENT STATE by the OHIO NATIONAL GUARD. The KILLINGS PRECIPITATED a NATION-WIDE STRIKE OF STUDENTS, FACULTY and other ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS. Among the STRIKERS were STUDENTS & FACULTY of the BOSTON MUSEUM of FINE ARTS SCHOOL Who established a PRINT MAKING and INFORMATIONAL STRIKE CENTER in the SCHOOL THE EVENING of the SHOOTINGS. This continued to operate for TWO to THREE MONTHS, producing approximately 70-75 SILK-SCREEN (Serigraphed) PROTEST and INFORMATIONAL POSTERS for the GREATER BOSTON area.
This was the SECOND or THIRD POSTER produced the MORNING AFTER THE SHOOTING. A SMALL NUMBER were PRINTED WITHOUT the CAPTION (just REPRODUCING the FRONT PAGE of the now defunct "BOSTON TRAVELER") and distributed to convenient walls, etc. To my knowledge, NONE OF THESE WERE SAVED. I WAS SO INCENSED BY THE KILLINGS THAT I got the idea to HAND PAINT the words "MURDERED BY THE PIGS" in DRIPPING RED PAINT SUPER-IMPOSED over the POSTER. As I recollect, about 4 or 5 POSTERS were so prepared before someone from the FACULTY who had MORE AUTHORITY THAN US LOWLY STUDENTS (I was a Law Student at nearby NU <Northeastern>) PROTESTED that the ALTERED POSTER WAS, IN HIS OPINION, RATHER INCENDIARY AND IN QUESTIONABLE TASTE AND SHOULD NO LONGER BE PRODUCED ON THE PREMISES.
Of the 4 OR 5 Copies, I keptT 2 and the other 2 OR 3 were put up on walls. MY OTHER COPY WAS GIVEN AWAY BY ME AT LEAST 25 YEARS AGO- I don't recollect to whom - and has been lost in the shuffle. I have no idea if it still exists today
And the 50th for "The Summer of Love"
Kent = May 4th 1970 Kent State where the Ohio National Guard fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis.
Augusta = May 11, 1970 Augusta Georgia riots after a mentally handicapped black teenager was tortured and killed at the hands of prisoners.
In the riots that ensued, six black men were shot in the back and killed by police shotguns. 80 others were also injured. The police were carrying out orders by racist Governor Lester Maddox to "Shoot to kill Communists and Black Panthers".
Jackson = Jackson Mississippi. May 14, 1970, a group were confronted by city and state police. Shortly after midnight, the police opened fire, killing two students and injuring twelve. The event happened only 11 days after National Guardsmen killed four students at Kent State. The button is below:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/186342-4-more-vietnam-protest-pinback-buttons
25th Anniversary pin for the KENT STATE SHOOTING below:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/176837-remember-kent-state-shooting-pinback-but
When you read this, it is amazing that those times were part of my lifespan. When I see the anger at protests now by people too young to know where it can lead, I worry about a return to these times. All this and public figures being shot annually. Why I want to preserve the times - and I know you do as well. Thanks for the input.
Dick
Hard to believe it has been that long.
Preserve and remember least we not repeat but your so right too many of our youth don't know where it can go but it's looking more and more like those days are on the way back SAD to say, The New Resistance is growing I only hope we can Resist in Peace and not end up with "The Days of Rage" again it was not all Peace and Love then and likely to be even more violent if it gets that bad again, Much of our Youth are freakin nuts to start with push them over the edge and watch out. (Must be old that's what they said about us)
Yin Yang it was the best and worst of times then, now we/they don't have the leaders or the music to guide them or try to keep them in check.
Still I retain some hope and still try to live by the old Hippie code.
Peace
When they have no fear of you, they do what they want. You will be disarmed eventually as the fight slows. Each generation is brainwashed more effectively.
In November of 2013 audio tape emerged that revealed for the first time the true story of what happened, and it was not a massacre. High-tech forensic audio analysis revealed a person working for the police and Intel agencies, Terry Norman had been surrounded by demonstrators. The tape revealed guardsmen yelled retreat, as rock throwing students charged them.
Terry Norman did not hear the call for retreat and was quickly surrounded by demonstrators. QUOTE: The tape captures one voice saying: "They got somebody," and a few seconds later, male voices shout: "Kill him!" Kill him!" There is then the sound of a .38 caliber revolver shot, followed by a female voice: "Whack that [expletive]!" Three more handgun shots ring out at about five-second intervals, and soon thereafter - in just 13 tragic seconds - 29 of the 77 guardsmen fire a total of 67 rifle shots that are to help seal the fate of the non-communist people of Indochina.
Mr. Norman later admitted carrying a .38 Special revolver because his life had been threatened repeatedly during earlier protests, and a TV reporter at the scene stated he saw Mr. Norman hand the weapon to a police officer and say, "I was afraid they were going to kill me, so I took out my revolver, and I fired it into the air and into the ground."
The tape doesn't have all of the answers. But the Ohio National Guard adjutant general later alleged there had been "sniper fire" at the guardsmen, and many of the guardsmen later testified they had been in fear for their lives. UNQUOTE Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper.
For reasons unknown, President Obama refused to re-open the case. It wasn't a massacre, it was a tragic accident, and yes there was gunfire before the Guard opened fire.