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Questions burn after riots

Abstract:
More than 25 Kent State students, and an additional 25 partygoers have arraignments set for Wednesday and Thursday after this weekend's College Fest riots. But it remains unclear what sparked the violence.


READ another article about the College Fest riot.



WATCH video captured Saturday night and view photos taken during the riot.



WATCH video footage taken by readers.


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  • Displaying 1 - 18 of 18

Spek Prachakuul

posted 4/27/09 @ 4:45 AM EST

Sounds like a CSNY song - oops, maybe not....
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jane doe

posted 4/27/09 @ 7:34 AM EST

Kids need to grow up...this isn't the 60's you have nothing to rage against.
I'm sure your parents are delighted to see their money go down the drain because you're too stupid to see yourselves as spoiled little brats throwing drunken temper tandrums. Innocent Men Women & Children could have been hurt had those fires taken off and caught homes on fire that belonged to Kent Citizens who actually pay taxes to have the police babysit a bunch of rowdy drunken college kids. Grow up, people are starving and homeless and all you can do is get drunk and cause expensive damage that the city will have to eventually pay for. It makes me sick to see such waste. And stop blaming the police they were greatly outnumbered and one drunken girl who had no right to question the police got a shaken up maybe it will prevent her from acting like a fool in the future. Being that drunk could lead to date rape, so she should take a step back and think that maybe being the drunken girl in an article about a riot isn't a bragging point.
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Caitlin P

posted 4/27/09 @ 12:35 PM EST

Originally posted by

jane doe

 Kids need to grow up...this isn't the 60's you have nothing to rage against.
I'm sure your parents are delighted to see their money go down the drain because you're too stupid to see yourselves as spoiled little brats throwing drunken temper tandrums. Innocent Men Women & Children could have been hurt had those fires taken off and caught homes on fire that belonged to Kent Citizens who actually pay taxes to have the police babysit a bunch of rowdy drunken college kids. Grow up, people are starving and homeless and all you can do is get drunk and cause expensive damage that the city will have to eventually pay for. It makes me sick to see such waste. And stop blaming the police they were greatly outnumbered and one drunken girl who had no right to question the police got a shaken up maybe it will prevent her from acting like a fool in the future. Being that drunk could lead to date rape, so she should take a step back and think that maybe being the drunken girl in an article about a riot isn't a bragging point.


Dear Jane Doe.
I agree with your comments about students not having anything to rage about but if you were not there in the situation I believe you should tone your comments down a couple of notches. I first off do not see myself as a spoiled brat... I am eventually going to have to pay for my college tuition and so if I choose to have a good time on the weekend after a long sememster I should be able to do that. If you were a parent im sure you would realize that you would first off be concerned about the saftey of your child and not the fact that my child is getting drunk in college (ohh no whats the world coming to). I have a 3.2 gpa so I dont think that is a "waste of money". I have also not heard one comment in the news from the girl so I can hardly say she is bragging about the event that took place, also it is a right of ours to question authority. I believe I am allowed to question if a friend is being arrested I am sure if you were arrested for no reason you would hardly have nothing to say from the comment you have written. I believe both ends were at fault here, but it was provoked by the police definatly. People were being arrested for things they did not know, I personally was locked up in a friends house for 2 hours unable to leave to get to my personal belongings a street over, and for your information just because I get drunk does not mean I am oblivious to the situation going on overseas and the problem of world hunger. I would just see all of the facts before you go on another rant. thanks
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Former KSU Student

posted 4/27/09 @ 9:35 AM EST

Lester, Greg and Pete are public official they needs to realize they are on call 24/7 for everyone, whether its University, Police or reporters. Yes I realize it is late in the evening but there was a "riot" going on!
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Stew

posted 4/27/09 @ 10:31 AM EST

How was this a riot? Just because police wear riot gear and start shooting people with rubber bullets and tear gas doesn't make it a riot. It was a party that the police broke up and they used excessive force to do it. Had the cops not have been there would there still have been a "riot"? Absolutely not.
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Arcygenical

posted 4/28/09 @ 1:17 AM EST

Originally posted by

Stew

 How was this a riot? Just because police wear riot gear and start shooting people with rubber bullets and tear gas doesn't make it a riot. It was a party that the police broke up and they used excessive force to do it. Had the cops not have been there would there still have been a "riot"? Absolutely not.


It was a party that broke a handful of municipal and federal laws. It was a large group of people - collectively - disobeying laws, causing public mischief, damaging property, engaging in violence and directly disobeying officers orders. AKA, acting with impunity, a state of disorder by an out-of control group of people, the perfect definition of a riot.
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Kevin

posted 4/27/09 @ 11:54 AM EST

Since I have been here, there have been several occasions in which the cops resorted to breaking parties up in that area using rubber bullets and force. It does not seem unlikely for something like this to happen if the students are tired of ending up with welts and paintball induced nausea when they were posing no threat to their community. The actions of the "rioters" probably weren't justified, but they were likely to occur. It seems though, that the cops in Kent have nothing better to do when a party like that is going down, and of course they're going to be viewed as antagonists.
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nelson angstrom

posted 4/27/09 @ 12:03 PM EST

For all posters who make ANY comparison to May 4, 1970, shut the frig up. What were these "students" protesting:the Iraq and/or Afghanistan war?; the nonexistent draft?; the missiles fired into Pakistan?; the presence of Ohio National Guard on their campus?; the declaration of martial law on campus? No, these were students who decided to do their annual end of semester party to you drop or destroy property or get into fights, i.e. students partying for their own self-gratification, totally disinterested in any neighbor's rights to peace and quiet and civility and basic decency. You students of today who do these things (usually at University Townhouses...guess you decided on a change of location this year)are in no way comparable to those students who protested in 1970. You're little selfish bastards and twits who think that only your pleasure is of any importance or value.
I was pretty upset about the economic burden we will leave your generation given our federal borrowing; I was pretty upset about your not being able to find jobs upon graduation. Now I think it will be just what you deserve given your worthless, self-centered lives.
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Abbey

posted 4/27/09 @ 1:04 PM EST

Dear Mr. Angstrom,

I completely agree with you that students were out of line. You're right. There is nothing to protest. It was students getting out of line. Everyone deserves to have a good time, but there is partying, then there idiocy. But I would appreciate it, and I think many others would too, if you did not lump all people around college age in the latter group. We are not all "twits" and "bastards."

I myself am a Kent State graduate, last May to be exact. And during my time at Kent State I did nothing like those students did. Nor did many others. I graduated with honors, and I had a job before I officially graduated. So did many others. Please do not let the actions of those few represent the entire University. There are a good many of us who worked our asses off to better ourselves. It's unfortunate that the actions of only a small fraction of students tarnish the image of those who do not behave that way. I ask you to please reconsider your statement.

Originally posted by

nelson angstrom

 For all posters who make ANY comparison to May 4, 1970, shut the frig up. What were these "students" protesting:the Iraq and/or Afghanistan war?; the nonexistent draft?; the missiles fired into Pakistan?; the presence of Ohio National Guard on their campus?; the declaration of martial law on campus? No, these were students who decided to do their annual end of semester party to you drop or destroy property or get into fights, i.e. students partying for their own self-gratification, totally disinterested in any neighbor's rights to peace and quiet and civility and basic decency. You students of today who do these things (usually at University Townhouses...guess you decided on a change of location this year)are in no way comparable to those students who protested in 1970. You're little selfish bastards and twits who think that only your pleasure is of any importance or value.
I was pretty upset about the economic burden we will leave your generation given our federal borrowing; I was pretty upset about your not being able to find jobs upon graduation. Now I think it will be just what you deserve given your worthless, self-centered lives.
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Tim

posted 4/27/09 @ 12:41 PM EST

Everyone keeps throwing around this phrase of excessive force so I ask what exactly is excessive force?
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Nichole

posted 4/27/09 @ 3:19 PM EST

I just read the article, and I must say I knew how the article would go. The cops and uppity citizens making false accusations, doing and saying anything to get people on their side and to look good. What the citizens do not see is from the eyes of young adults who witnessed what these cops did. Yes kids were out partying, that was expected. What the real issue is, is the fact that the police think they can do anything they want. Arresting someone for open container is understandable, what he did to that young girl is absolutely unacceptable. Yes she might have been drunk, but there is no excuse to push someone that hard. The same goes for the rest of what happened, randomly firing to disperse a crowd. The cops instigated this problem, then tried to blame it on the students. I completely agree with how the students did something back. I believe any crowd would if they saw that happen. Just because you have a badge and a uniform it doesn't give you the right to treat people with disrespect. I am all for cops protecting, that's why they are here. I just believe they way over stepped their boundaries on how they can treat people, and it's about time people started saying no, its not okay.
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Arcygenical

posted 4/28/09 @ 1:13 AM EST

Originally posted by

Nichole

 I just read the article, and I must say I knew how the article would go. The cops and uppity citizens making false accusations, doing and saying anything to get people on their side and to look good. What the citizens do not see is from the eyes of young adults who witnessed what these cops did. Yes kids were out partying, that was expected. What the real issue is, is the fact that the police think they can do anything they want. Arresting someone for open container is understandable, what he did to that young girl is absolutely unacceptable. Yes she might have been drunk, but there is no excuse to push someone that hard. The same goes for the rest of what happened, randomly firing to disperse a crowd. The cops instigated this problem, then tried to blame it on the students. I completely agree with how the students did something back. I believe any crowd would if they saw that happen. Just because you have a badge and a uniform it doesn't give you the right to treat people with disrespect. I am all for cops protecting, that's why they are here. I just believe they way over stepped their boundaries on how they can treat people, and it's about time people started saying no, its not okay.


The second you refuse to leave the scene on an officer's order - you're subject to arrest.

You're right. Any crowd WOULD get the same way, if they witnessed the police's actions - but that doesn't make their actions correct, or legal. It makes them part of a riot. Regardless of whether their response would happen universally, under the US judicial system, they're still universally acting illegally. There's no excuse for disobeying an officer - ever - when you're breaking a law you're not directly protesting.

I don't feel sorry for a single student - not even the girl who was shoved (with too much force, I agree) as she was so stupid to think taunting an officer - during an arrest - was an acceptable course of action. Drunk or not, alcohol isn't an acceptable excuse to act with poor judgment - so that's a moot point. Not to mention it's ILLEGAL to interfere with the arrest of another person. She should have been cuffed as well.
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Anim Poster

posted 4/27/09 @ 4:59 PM EST

Wow. You guys really are amazing dumbasses.

See, it's so crystal clear here that all of the folks here who are yelling "foul!" and crying about "excessive force" would be exactly the *same* people who would expect nothing less than merciless behavior from law enforcement personnel if they felt their own safety and well-being was at stake.

Then you little brats would be singing a completely different song. Then all you would want would be to be rescued.

So quit whining. The tear-gas has already worn off, and if you happened to get hit by a rubber bullet, the welt will be gone soon enough. You haven't been scarred for life.

And, the next time the people who are charged with putting themselves in harm's way to protect you ask you to do something, just listen to them.

That said -- there's no argument that the KPD hasn't had less than stellar reviews for their behavior. As have many PD's nationwide. The best cops will tell you that most of their peers become cops because, at heart, they're a-holes. But, if you don't like your local police force -- you're free to move. This is America. You're free not to support the FOP. But you aren't free to disobey law enforcement, pretty much anywhere. Grow up.

AP
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Kat

posted 4/27/09 @ 8:41 PM EST

Yes the officer used a little too much force with the girl. However, the response of the students was still inexcusable. I can't believe any rational human being could possibly think throwing bottles and starting fires is the appropriate response to the situation. As a Kent State student, I am embarrassed by the actions of my peers. What I saw in the videos posted were a bunch of drunken morons who thought that just because it was College Fest they were somehow exempt from the law. Well guess what, you're not. How are the police supposed to react in that situation? Everyone is quick to point fingers and say what they did wrong, well what should they have done then? Just because "it's college fest," does not mean you can walk around with an open container, throw bottles at the police, or start fires in the street. Students who participated in those fires are lucky those flames did not spread to a nearby house or things Saturday night could have been a lot worse.
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Arcygenical

posted 4/28/09 @ 1:03 AM EST

The second you directly disobey a disperse order from an officer, you're breaking the law. The second you yell, fight, run taunt or scream as you're being cuffed, you're resisting arrest. The second you're out drinking on the streets, you're breaking the law. The list goes on and on.

It's terrible that the crowd REQUIRED submission with non-lethal weapons - but the police were simply operating within the system they're a part of.
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former flash

posted 9/24/09 @ 8:54 PM EST

Having lived on college street for three years, i have to say that the Kent Police use extremely aggressive tactics when being called to this street during this time of year. The college fest parties we had while i was there were quite calm and basically consisted of people gathered in front yards and porches, listening to music at a reasonable volume and drinking. Two of the three years KPD showed up in riot gear and broke everything up going house to house. As i was standing on my front porch on the far west end of college street, having just gotten off work i was enjoying a beer with 3 friends. The swat team came by and aggressively demanded i retreat inside, threatening to arrest using whatever force necessary. I was outraged at the time and stood my ground. Luckily for me, The swat team moved down towards the east end of college street where there were people gathered, in my opinion, reasonably partying(no fires, bottle throwing, fights, or otherwise stupid acts) and handled party goers as if a riot was going on.
All in all, I believe KPD's handling of the parties on college street annually is very poor. There are proactive measures they could take rather than marching down the street in riot gear ready to do battle unjustly. They wonder why students and a large number of Kent natives have such a poor outlook on the KPD... it might be because of the militia style policing that they practice regularly.
Just want to say I absolutely do NOT support the bottle throwers, fire setters... That is just wrong PERIOD! It is okay to party within reason however when u get out line and attempt to injur police officers/fire fighters, you have had more than enough partying and should be sent to jail for assault.
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MK

posted 9/24/09 @ 10:30 PM EST

The KPD is an extremely abusive. Anyone who has lived more then a year at Kent knows this. It's like having your community policed by the Hell's Angels. Most incidents between students and police are instigated by the police themselves mostly by strong arming their way through students who have done nothing wrong. I wasn't there during the "riots" but im sure it was the police who decided the party was over and fired the first shot
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Andrew P

posted 9/25/09 @ 3:55 AM EST

MK must have had run-ins with the Kent cops before...

I've lived in this City since 2000. Never once have I had problems with the Kent Police (or any law enforcement for that matter). I must be doing something wrong.
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