Student Protests Have Generally Been On the Right Side of History
The Government Has Been Ready and Willing to Crush Their Efforts
American colleges and universities have a history of protest. The current demonstrations about Israel and Gaza that have spread nationwide are by no means the first. Colleges and universities have spearheaded protests against the Vietnam War and the Iraq War(s). Students led protests against apartheid in South Africa and McCarthyism at the height of the Red Scare. In retrospect, far more often than not, students have been on the right side.
Student protests rarely came without pushback from the powers that be. Four students were killed and nine wounded at a Kent State University (KSU) demonstration against the Vietnam War. Polls show the public sided more with the National Guard than the student protesters. Over three days, there had been confrontations between students and soldiers/officers. The Governor had stationed over 1,000 troops on campus. The protests turned more against the presence of National Guard troops on campus and less about the war. The Mayor and Governor decided to break up a peaceful demonstration on May 4, 1070. The students refused to disperse, and some rocks were thrown. The National Guard responded with bullets from their M-1 rifles.
