On May 4, 1970 four Kent State students were killed and nine wounded when the Ohio National Guard opened fire into a peaceful anti- war protest.

One of those wounded died in 2020. His name was Alan Canfora and we happened upon his grave at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland last year. I knew he was one of the injured because engraved in the top of that black granite stone is a photo from the protest. I later learned that the photo on his headstone is actually of him during the protest.

I also learned that he had dedicated his life to activism and to telling the story of that day.

Throughout Canfora’s lifetime he amassed the largest personal collection of photos, court records, audio recordings, personal correspondence, protest materials and other items related to this tragedy.

Following his death at age 71, his family donated that collection to Kent State. This link will take you to a good story that quotes his sister about his efforts to not allow the truth to be forgotten or rewritten. I thought about quoting it here but would prefer you take a minute to read the story.

If you aren’t familiar with what went on at Kent State at the time, you should read up on it. No one should die or be wounded for peacefully protesting in this country but I am impressed that he used his experience as a catalyst to better the world.