Kent State University will be honoring the students who lost their lives during an anti-war protest where the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students. 

Allison Krause, William Schroeder, Sandra Scheuer and Jeffrey Miller were killed during the protest on May 4, 1970 while nine other students were injured. 

The May 4, 2022 commemoration theme is "The Power of Our Voices" in recognition of people throughout history who have used their voices to effect meaningful change. 

The May 4 commemoration will start Sunday, May 1 with an outdoor music festival on the Kent State Commons. 

Students from the May 4 Task Force and Students for a Democratic Society will be promoting May 4 programs and handing out information on the events planned by the university. 

Bands Magpie, Harvest, The TwistOffs and Alex Bevan will play from noon until 6 p.m. on the Kent State Commons. 

The May 4 Film Series also begins Sunday, May 4 with a screening of Academy Award winning director Barbara Kopple's documentary "Shut Up & Sing" at 7:30 p.m. The free film series continues on Monday, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. with a showing of Glenn Silber's "The War at Home," nominated for two Academy Awards

On Monday, May 2, starting at 11:30 a.m., Kent State will honor faculty marshals of May 4, 1970 with a luncheon and special recognition at the inaugural Jerry M. Lewis May 4 Lecture Series. Tammy Clewell, Ph.D., who is a professor in the Kent State English Department will deliver the inaugural lecture with her presentation of "Remembering the Contested May 4 Memorializing Process." 

A special gathering will be held in the Taylor Hall parking lot on Tuesday, May 3 to dedicate the engraved plaques that permanently mark where the nine wounded students were located when hit by gunfire. 

This year's two featured films will have special screenings in the Kent Student Center Kiva, with opportunities for audiences to engage afterward. "The War at Home" will be screened at 4 p.m. followed by a Q&A session with the director Glenn Silber and facilitated by Kent State President Todd Diacon. At 7 p.m., Danny Miller's "Fire in the Heartland" at 7 p.m. will include an interactive Q&A with the director and principal figures featured in the film about the Kent State shootings. Following the film, visitors will gather on the Kent State Commons to prepare for the Candlelight Walk and Vigil. A light meal will be served at 10 p.m.

The annual Candlelight Walk and Vigil will begin at 11 p.m. This cornerstone of the commemoration began in 1971.

On Wednesday, May 4, the campus community and visitors will gather at noon on the May 4 site at the Kent State Commons to commemorate the moment that gunfire erupted 52 years ago.

Presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham will deliver the commemoration keynote address and will appear the evening of May 4 for Kent State's Presidential Speaker Series.

Presidential Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. However, a ticket is required for admission to the 7 p.m. event. 

Tickets can be purchased here.