Kent State: An American Tragedy

by Brian VanDeMark

At the building entrance, they encountered jeering students and campus police, who blocked them from entering. Ernie Ames, a university police officer who had been a lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, held his position just inside the doors. An eyewitness stated that “Ames easily sustained the assaults on his huge frame by several members of the Kent SDS who had marched into the hallway and now were beating wildly on his chest, arms, legs, and whatever else they could reach—his privates.” David Ambler, the balding, mild-mannered assistant vice president for student affairs, tried to calm things by telling protestors, “If you behave in an orderly fashion, three of you may enter the building and present your petition to whatever authorities you wish.” To this reasoned appeal, SDS chapter president Ric Erickson, the son of a former Akron mayor, responded, “We all come in or none of us do!” SDS members then began shouting obscenities and resumed brawling with police. University police “were shoved and kicked, but they kept their cool. The police held their ground but never used their fists, clubs, mace, or guns.”