• Robust Mirror@aussie.zone
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    19 hours ago

    Here’s 2, first is Claude, second is chatgpt:

    what happened at Kent state? Or the move firebombings


    I’ll explain both of these significant and tragic events in American history.

    Kent State Shooting (May 4, 1970)

    The Kent State shooting, also known as the May 4 Massacre, occurred when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed college students at Kent State University during a protest against the Vietnam War. Key points:

    • 4 students were killed: Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Schroeder
    • 9 others were wounded
    • The students were protesting the U.S. invasion of Cambodia and military presence on campus
    • The National Guard fired 67 rounds over 13 seconds
    • The event sparked nationwide protests and became a defining moment of the anti-war movement
    • It inspired the famous song “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

    MOVE Bombing (May 13, 1985)

    The MOVE bombing was a devastating incident in Philadelphia where police dropped a bomb on the headquarters of MOVE, a Black liberation group. Key details:

    • Philadelphia police dropped a C-4 explosive on the MOVE compound on Osage Avenue
    • The bombing killed 11 people, including 5 children
    • The fire destroyed 61 homes in the predominantly Black neighborhood
    • MOVE was a radical group that advocated for environmental and animal rights
    • The city’s decision to bomb its own citizens was unprecedented
    • No city officials were criminally charged for the incident
    • In 2021, it was revealed that the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton had been storing remains of some victims without family consent
    • The city of Philadelphia formally apologized in 2020

    Both events represent significant examples of state violence against civilians in American history and continue to influence discussions about civil rights, police power, and government accountability.

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    The Kent State shooting and the MOVE firebombing are two significant, tragic events in American history, each occurring under very different circumstances.

    Kent State Shooting (1970)

    The Kent State shooting took place on May 4, 1970, at Kent State University in Ohio, during a period of intense anti-Vietnam War protests across the United States. The protest at Kent State was sparked by President Richard Nixon’s announcement of the Cambodian Campaign, which escalated the war in Southeast Asia. Thousands of students gathered to protest the war, and the situation became tense.

    On May 4, the Ohio National Guard was called in to control the protests. After a day of escalating tension, the guardsmen, who were ill-trained and overwhelmed, opened fire on the students. Four students were killed, and nine others were injured. The incident led to national outrage and further intensified anti-war protests, symbolising the growing divide between young Americans and their government over the war.

    MOVE Firebombing (1985)

    The MOVE firebombing occurred on May 13, 1985, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MOVE was a radical, back-to-nature, Black liberation group that lived in a communal environment. The group was known for its controversial, confrontational tactics, especially its leader, John Africa. MOVE’s members lived in a row house at 6221 Osage Avenue, and tensions had been rising between the group and the city government due to complaints about their noise and lifestyle.

    In 1985, after a prolonged standoff with the police, the Philadelphia Police Department, under orders from Mayor Wilson Goode, decided to forcibly evict the group. In the course of the operation, a police helicopter dropped a bomb on the roof of the MOVE house, leading to a fire. The fire quickly spread, and the police allowed the house to burn down, resulting in the deaths of 11 people (including five children), and the destruction of an entire city block. The event was highly controversial, with accusations that the police had overstepped their authority and violated the rights of the MOVE members.

    Both events highlight significant moments in American history, marked by government overreach, public outcry, and questions surrounding the use of force in response to civil unrest.