This is going to take a while to set up, but trust us, it’s worth the trip: Last week, Alan Canfora–one of the survivors of the 1970 Kent State University shootings–released a newly enhanced audio snippet featuring 13 seconds of National Guard gunfire. The material was originally recorded by Terry Strubbe, a KSU student who had a reel-to-reel player on his dorm window, and according to Canfora, you can hear the words “Right here. Get set. Point. Fire” being spoken on the clip. Compelling stuff, to be sure–but you’ll have to read way down to find a rather intriguing indie-rock connection:
Canfora, who is director of the Kent May 4 Center, released two versions of the 20-second audio clip: a copy of Strubbe’s unaltered recording, and a digitally enhanced version in which the volume was boosted and some background noise was removed. Ian Mackaye of the band Fugazi analyzed the recording for Canfora at Dischord Records in Washington, D.C.
There’s no explanation of how MacKaye got involved with all of this; perhaps Canfora thought he’d found a political ally in the Minor Threat mastermind, or perhaps he was just really impressed with the remastering job on In On The Kill Taker (which, incidentally, is still way underrated). Either way, we can only hope that this incident prompts a newfound investigation into the shootings–and maybe a Fugazi reunion, to boot.
Casualty wants new probe of KSU shootings [Akron Beacon Journal]
“The recording was significant for KSU juniors Ryan Tipton and Jamie Donne, who attended the news conference.
“I thought it would be clearer, so I had to listen a few times before I definitely heard the `get ready’ and `right here,’ ” said Donne, 20, a psychology student from Pittsburgh.
Of course that could be read “…so I had to listen a few times before {I heard what I wanted to hear} or {I heard what I was told I should hear}”
I cant imagine there is much more to investigate on this tragic incident…its not like this tape tells anyone who exactly was shouting these alleged orders or if that person was even in the National Guard or not…
I’ve lived about 20 minutes from the KSU campus for the majority of my life, and Alan Canfora’s sister is a dear friend of mine. Even so, I have to agree with Mick Kraut that there might not be much else to uncover about Kent State.
It is always important to commemorate what happened that day. (Indeed, it’s a testament to the horror of May 4 that people who were there [like Canfora] have had such difficulty resolving the event and working past it.) However, I’m not sure anything, even knowing for absolute certain the the Guardsmen were given an order, could put right the shooting of unarmed students. What then? It’s still a tragedy.
Anyone remember the liner notes to the Argument LP? There was a photograph of a memorial to the people who died at Kent State. I’m guessing that Ian feels a personal connection with this incident, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he sought out Alan Canfora himself.
How about a MT reunion instead?
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