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Allison KrauseMurdered Kent University student
Date of Birth: 23.04.1951
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Allison Krause
Allison Krause was a 19-year-old student at Kent State University. She became one of the four students who tragically lost their lives during a protest against the deployment of American troops in Cambodia. Her final words, as remembered by her friends, were "Flowers are better than bullets." The demonstration, initially intended as a peaceful student protest, became one of the most tragic moments of the 20th century, capturing the hearts of millions of ordinary Americans who began to realize that their government had crossed a line.
Allison Krause, along with the other victims, became a symbol of freedom of speech not only in America but also beyond its borders. In Russian-speaking countries, her story is known through a poem written by Yevgeny Yevtushenko called "Flowers and Bullets," composed shortly after the tragedy in May 1970.
The Kent State University Protest
In early May, student activists from Kent State University in Ohio called on students to rally against the recent deployment of American troops in Cambodia. The protest continued for several days, gaining attention from American newspapers that largely agreed with the students' stance. On May 4th, nearly 2,000 people gathered on the campus, unaware that an armed unit of the Ohio National Guard had been deployed.
The military unit, ordered to disperse the protest, did not expect the students to stand their ground and attempt negotiations. Over the course of several hours, the number of students dwindled, leaving only the most determined opponents of the invasion. No one can say for certain how the shooting began on the university campus. The National Guard unit opened fire on unarmed students from a distance of 100 meters, leaving four dead and nine injured within minutes. Allison Krause, a 19-year-old outstanding student and graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, was among the victims. A bullet passed through her left arm, causing internal organ damage, and she succumbed to her injuries a few hours later.
The Kent State University shooting made headlines in every American newspaper the following day. Reports from the campus spread across the country, and the names of the four deceased students became known to every American. Allison Krause's final words, "Flowers are better than bullets," were broadcasted through mass media and subsequently became one of the main slogans of the anti-war movements.
Legacy and Activism
Just five days later, on May 9, 1970, more than 100,000 people took to the streets in Washington, D.C., and numerous demonstrations against the war in Cambodia took place at universities across America. The Kent State University campus remained closed for six weeks. Allison's father pursued a career as a lawyer, spending over ten years investigating his daughter's murder. However, the only victory achieved was a compensation of $15,000 and an official letter of condolences.
In 2010, Allison's sister founded the "Kent State Truth Tribunal" to investigate and preserve the memory of the tragedy that occurred in May 1970. Despite the government's lack of responsibility for Allison's death, her name became synonymous with the word "pacifist." Her image has been used countless times in songs, novels, and poems.
In 1970, Yevgeny Yevtushenko wrote a poem titled "Flowers and Bullets," in which he immortalized Allison Krause, calling her "a prickly flower of protest, risen as an immortal of her era."
