Fifty Years After Kent State: Americans Who Lived It See It Differently

In 1970, the President’s Commission on Campus Unrest concluded that the shootings at Kent State University occurred in “the most divisive time in America since the Civil War.” When asked about the current climate in America in 2020, 41 percent of Americans polled said the country is more divided now than in 1970.

The survey was conducted by Emerson College Polling in conjunction with a Zoom event on the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings, held Monday, May 4, 3:00-4:00 pm. For more information on how to join, visit Emerson Polling.

Twenty-two percent of those polled said it is less divided now than in 1970, 20 percent said it is about the same, and 17 percent had no opinion.

“That we are more divided today than after the shootings at Kent State, especially in the wake of the pandemic, reflects that there are critical and immediate challenges for leaders at all levels of American society, as was the case in 1970,” said Greg Payne, chair of Communication Studies and Kent State expert.

In assessing blame for the shootings, 36 percent believe the National Guard was responsible, 13 percent blamed the students were responsible, 9 percent said Ohio Gov. James A. Rhodes was responsible, and 8 percent blamed President Richard Nixon. Among those under 60, 45 percent blamed the National Guard, as compared to 23 percent of those over 60 who hold the Guard responsible. Nineteen percent of those over 60 think students were responsible, and 26 percent said they did not know.

“In contrast to polls in 1970 that approved of the Guards’ actions at Kent State, 50 years later the consensus, more so among those [younger than 60] is in line with the President’s Commission on Campus Unrest that the shootings were ‘unwarranted, inexcusable, and unnecessary,'” Payne said.

For more on Kent State and

Respondents were asked how much trust they have in several institutions in the country: the news media, the federal government, state government, and local government:

News Media:
Trust a lot – 17 percent
Trust somewhat – 44 percent
Don’t trust much – 21 percent
Don’t trust at all – 19 percent

Federal Government:
Trust a lot – 7 percent
Trust somewhat – 42 percent
Don’t trust much – 37 percent
Don’t trust at all – 14 percent

State Government:
Trust a lot – 18 percent
Trust somewhat – 48 percent
Don’t trust much – 24 percent
Don’t trust at all – 10 percent

Local Government:
Trust a lot – 20 percent
Trust somewhat – 52 percent
Don’t trust much – 20 percent
Don’t trust at all – 8 percent

Respondents were asked their opinion about President Trump’s new multi-billion-dollar plan to make a COVID-19 vaccine this fall called “Project Warp Speed.” The majority of respondents, 33 percent, want to see more facts before forming an opinion. Nineteen percent of respondents support the plan because they believe we will not return to normal life without a vaccine; 28 percent support the plan, but do not believe it’s possible to get a vaccine that fast. Six percent do not support it because they believe it is a way to give money to drug companies. Eleven percent do not support it because they aren’t sure a vaccine can be developed. One percent do not support it because developing a vaccine is against their religion or beliefs.

When asked about taking a COVID-19 vaccine, 29 percent say they would take it, 54 percent say they would follow their doctor’s advice, 4 percent say they would take it if their school or employer required it, and 12 percent say they would not take the vaccine under any circumstances.