In 1970, I found myself in Tallahassee, FL when Kent State hit the papers. That night, I was among thousands who marched through city streets to the Governor's Mansion to hold candles and sing Lennon's Give Peace a Chance. Later a wreath was hung on the door of the ROTC building. The following evening, another rally was held on campus. The rally was held in a field that adjoined a busy street, and the rally leaders suggested we block the street. We did, and soon a contingent of armed, mask wearing police appeared, appeared by the cigar-puffing, cane twirling Chief of Police, who arranged his men in a skirmish line. The line advanced with carbines displayed, and I felt the rush of anger and adrenaline as the crowd surged back and forth. The police at last retreated to the far curb of the street, and hundreds of us sat on the near curb, a space of 12 feet or so between us. I suddenly heard a commotion to my left, and glanced up at a car fender inched from my face. I swung back as the car continued down the gutter at high speed. I saw several people hit, one girl who had her legs stretched forward into the street was crushed. The police at last stopped the car, as the outraged crowd moved toward the dazed, short-haired young man who emerged from the vehicle. He was taken into custody as the young girl and several others were taken to the hospital. I found out the next day that the girl had been sentenced to life in a wheel chair due to the man's action. In addition, she was fined for blocking a public thoroughfare. The man who had crippled her was released that same night.

I sometimes think of the hate that caused that woman to suffer, and I don't feel at all nostalgic for the great struggles of our youth. If she still lives, she has something to remind her everyday of the ugliness of those times. I don't care about memorials, either. The same frustration and anger that maimed her killed the people at Kent State and Jackson State. She was as unlucky and unwilling a martyr as they. There is no glory in it for either side, and I believe that none who come after will understand what happened. Rest in Peace.