Alan Canfora
Encyclopedia
Alan Michael Canfora was a student at Kent State University
, Ohio
, when he was shot and wounded in the right wrist by Ohio National Guard
smen in the Kent State shootings
on May 4, 1970 while protesting the invasion of Cambodia
.
It is estimated that Canfora was 225 feet away from the Guardsman who shot him with a military issue M1 Garand
. Canfora suffered a through and through gunshot wound with entry and exit wounds.
Four students (Allison Krause
, William Schroeder
, Sandra Scheuer
and Jeffrey Miller
) were killed in the shootings which led to protests on college campuses throughout the United States
, causing hundreds of campuses to close because of both violent and non-violent demonstrations. The Kent State campus remained closed for six weeks. Just five days after the shootings, 100,000 people demonstrated in Washington, D.C.
against the war. Ten days after the shootings, two more people were shot and killed
on the campus of Jackson State University
in Mississippi
. The police
were brought onto the Jackson State campus because authorities feared that protests over the Kent State shootings could turn into riots.
Canfora was one of nine students injured in the shootings at Kent State that day. The others were Dean Kahler, Scott Mackenzie, Robbie Stamps, Doug Wrentmore, John Cleary, Joe Lewis, Jim Russell and Tom Grace. Their injuries ranged from minor flesh wounds to spinal cord injury
resulting in permanent paralysis
. Of these, Canfora has been the most outspoken about the Kent State shootings and the United States government's role in the event and in what he calls the cover-up of the incident in the decades since. He has been involved in public speaking and maintains a website on which he has published excerpts of his forthcoming book on the events at Kent State from 1967 to 1970.
Alan Canfora currently resides in his hometown, Barberton, Ohio
, where he is an election official. He is still very active in politics and is the chair of the Barberton Democratic Party, a post he has held since 1992. Alan Canfora is also the Director of the Kent May 4 Center, a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational charity, since 1989.
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, when he was shot and wounded in the right wrist by Ohio National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
smen in the Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
The Kent State shootings—also known as the May 4 massacre or the Kent State massacre—occurred at Kent State University in the city of Kent, Ohio, and involved the shooting of unarmed college students by members of the Ohio National Guard on Monday, May 4, 1970...
on May 4, 1970 while protesting the invasion of Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
.
It is estimated that Canfora was 225 feet away from the Guardsman who shot him with a military issue M1 Garand
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand , was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S...
. Canfora suffered a through and through gunshot wound with entry and exit wounds.
Four students (Allison Krause
Allison Krause
Allison B. Krause was an honor student at Kent State University, Ohio, when she was shot and killed by the Ohio Army National Guard in the Kent State Massacre, while protesting the invasion of Cambodia and the presence of the National Guard on the Kent State campus...
, William Schroeder
William Knox Schroeder
William Knox Schroeder was a student at Kent State University, Ohio, when he was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings....
, Sandra Scheuer
Sandra Scheuer
Sandra Lee Scheuer was a student at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, when she was killed by Ohio National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings....
and Jeffrey Miller
Jeffrey Miller
Jeffrey Glenn Miller was a student at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, when he was shot and killed by Ohio National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings....
) were killed in the shootings which led to protests on college campuses throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, causing hundreds of campuses to close because of both violent and non-violent demonstrations. The Kent State campus remained closed for six weeks. Just five days after the shootings, 100,000 people demonstrated in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
against the war. Ten days after the shootings, two more people were shot and killed
Jackson State killings
The Jackson State killings occurred on Thursday/Friday May 14–15, 1970, at Jackson State College in Jackson, Mississippi. A group of somewhat violent student protesters were confronted by city and state police. The police opened fire, killing two students and injuring twelve...
on the campus of Jackson State University
Jackson State University
Jackson State University is a historically black university founded in 1877 in Natchez, MS by the American Baptist Home Mission Society of New York. The Society moved the school to Jackson in 1882, renaming it Jackson College, and developed its present campus in 1902. It became a state supported...
in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. The police
Jackson Police Department (Mississippi)
The Jackson Police Department provides law enforcement services to approximately 185,000 citizens encompassing of Jackson, Mississippi. JPD is composed of approximately 430 Sworn Officers who are supported by over 250 civilian personnel.-Brief history:...
were brought onto the Jackson State campus because authorities feared that protests over the Kent State shootings could turn into riots.
Canfora was one of nine students injured in the shootings at Kent State that day. The others were Dean Kahler, Scott Mackenzie, Robbie Stamps, Doug Wrentmore, John Cleary, Joe Lewis, Jim Russell and Tom Grace. Their injuries ranged from minor flesh wounds to spinal cord injury
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
resulting in permanent paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
. Of these, Canfora has been the most outspoken about the Kent State shootings and the United States government's role in the event and in what he calls the cover-up of the incident in the decades since. He has been involved in public speaking and maintains a website on which he has published excerpts of his forthcoming book on the events at Kent State from 1967 to 1970.
Alan Canfora currently resides in his hometown, Barberton, Ohio
Barberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
, where he is an election official. He is still very active in politics and is the chair of the Barberton Democratic Party, a post he has held since 1992. Alan Canfora is also the Director of the Kent May 4 Center, a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational charity, since 1989.
External links
- Alan Canfora website
- Kent May 4 Center
- The May 4 Shootings at Kent State University: The Search for Historical Accuracy, By Jerry M. Lewis and Thomas R. Hensley
- May41970.com Commentary by Ralph Solonitz from Kent State 30 anniversary event involving Alan Canfora and other survivors
- May 4 Archive - The Survivors
- Personal Reactions to Kent State
- kentstate1970.org: Audio repository of media relating to the Kent State shootings