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North of CeNter Wednesday, MaRCH 10, 2010 FRee TaKe HoMe AND READ NOCLEXInGTON.CoM VoluMe II, Issue 5 Kent State at UK: a look 40 years later By Richard Becker Editor’s note: This will be the first of a four-part story that looks back at the unfolding events of May 1970 at the University of Kentucky, when students and faculty voiced opposition to the destructive actions of their national and campus leaders. When all was said and done in Lexington, the National Guard had set up base on the university campus while, at the same time, students were banned from going on it; an aging former governor was made into a state folk hero for punching an unsuspecting student; and an unoccupied ROTC building was myste- riously burned to the ground. This May will mark the fortieth anniversary of the killing by mem- bers of the u.s. national Guard of four students at Kent state university. on a local note, it will be the forti- eth anniversary of the university of Kentucky’s response to the events at Kent state. For several days in the COURTESY UK SPECIAL COLLECTIONS spring of 1970, uK, a bastion of political conservatism and, at times, The Kentucky National Guard set up camp in front of UK’s Patterson Office Tower in May 1970. simple apathy, was effectively shut down by students and community local resident—must learn more about singletary, in concert with Kentucky on the Vietnam War and the various members who were moved to dem- these events if we as a community are to Governor louie nunn, established a responses to it, a basic history is nec- onstrate against the united state’s take the appropriate lessons from this curfew on campus, enforced by armed essary. In the early 1960’s President illegal escalation of the Vietnam War chapter in our history. In the span of a national Guard troops and state Kennedy continued the policy of the into Cambodia and, later, the violent week in early May at the university of police, and called off final exams and eisenhower administration by send- response of the state to university Kentucky, the air Force RoTC build- commencement events. ing military advisors to Indochina. demonstrators in ohio who protested ing had been burned to the ground, To understand the events at uK Following Kennedy’s assassination the escalation. faculty and students had been arrested, in May of 1970, it is important to in 1963, lyndon Johnson took power Most lexingtonians know little and many more demonstrators and first establish the basic context—the and escalated the war to a level previ- about the events that took place at uK passers-by were temporarily debilitated Vietnam War—in which these events ously unseen. While his efforts were forty years ago, and yet anyone associ- by the authorities’ indiscriminate use took place. initially met with support from the ated with uK—whether they are a fac- of tear gas and pepper spray on cam- While it is impossible in this ulty member, a student, an alum, or a pus. eventually, uK President otis space to fully provide a background continued on page 3 Taking a little RNR East Enders march By Captain Commanokers follow the formula of kids experienc- Residents move on violence and drugs ing live music, experimenting with the I spent a lot of hours playing the instruments or just dancing to their By Andrew Battista Response supervisor for the C.l.e.a.R. tennis racquet when I was a kid – not a heart’s content, while parents get the unit. “We’re not here to tell you that lot of tennis though. The racquet was all-too-rare opportunity to see music on saturday, February 27, Greater we’re going to solve this issue as the my weapon of choice in trying to rep- they love with like-minded folks. liberty Baptist Church on Chestnut police. This is your issue, your com- licate numerous angus young riffs as The next lexington RnR is set street hosted a program and protest munity, and you’re going to be the one I stomped about the garage in a mad for saturday, March 20 at 1 P.M. at march in which some fifty people solving this. But I’m proud that you’re fury of exuberance that rock ‘n’ roll al’s, with performances by Tula, The gathered to decry violence, gam- getting together as a group and saying, can provide a young set of ears. swells and snow Monster, a group led bling, and drug trade in the east end ‘we’re tired of this.’” a group of people in lexington by 6-year-old songstress Mabel, last seen neighborhood. I found my way to the program and is trying to take that racquet and rocking the FreeKy Fest stage in 2008. Members of the William Wells march with the hope that lexington’s replace it with some full-fledged, joy- The only RnR stipulation is that adults Brown neighborhood association and east end residents could catalyze a ous racket. need to be accompanied by a child to representatives from the lexington renewed sense of obligation to our “It’s important for kids to see that get in, and vice versa. a suggested dona- Police department C.l.e.a.R. division community. like many of the people music isn’t just a product but a means tion of $5 goes toward the artists. (Community law enforcement action who attended last saturday, I could not of expression,” said neil Bell, one of The organizers feel an act like snow Response) joined members of Greater forget a gunfight that took place early the board members of lexington’s new Monster can go a long way toward liberty Baptist Church to renounce on the morning of June 14, 2009. at Rock n’ Romp undertaking, which is inspiring other young audience mem- violence that threatens to diminish the least twelve shots, piercing and clear, a concert series that showcases local bers. “a lot of the time the only young quality of life in lexington’s east end. woke me at about 4:00 a.M. I did go bands and musicians performing day- performers children get to see are either “The trustees were in a meet- back to sleep, but when I emerged the time shows to kids and parents. adults or disney-fied musical acts that ing here at church one evening, and next morning and headed out to the several other successful RnR’s are I was actually speaking to this very farmer’s market on my bicycle, I had established around the country that continued on page 2 issue when we heard three shots ring to navigate around a police blockade. out, right in front of the church, right Twenty-year-old dwayne Johnson, across the street,” said John C. lee, the who went by the nickname “Man church’s senior pastor. “They shot a Man,” had been shot to death that young man, and we went to his aid. night in front of the Pak-n-save That incident was the first of a series Market, on the corner of Race street of shootings and related crime in our and east Third. over a month elapsed neighborhood.” before authorities announced that they In 2009, there were thirteen homi- had apprehended his killer. according cides in lexington, and over half of to the u.s. Marshalls, Johnson was them (seven) took place in the 40508 murdered over a dispute in a game of zip code, the neighborhood in which craps. Greater liberty is located. But homi- after an hour-long sequence, dur- cide is not the only manifestation of ing which a litany of clergy, law enforc- violence in the William Wells Brown ers, politicians, and community lead- neighborhood. last year, 699 assaults, ers spoke, the congregation left and 173 robberies, and 34 rapes were walked around the east end. singing reported, an inordinately high number spirituals, hymns, and songs that have when compared with Fayette County been integral to the civil rights move- MATT JORDAN / YOUAINTNOPICASSO.COM as a whole. ment, we circled past Pack-n-save, “We’re here to be a partner with Snow Monster rocks FreeKY Fest, 2008. you,” said sgt. Brian Maynard, a continued on page 2 Contents In forthcoming issues 2 — The Neighborhood 5 — Music 6 — Sports 8 — Comics Benton on the cultural commons. Part 4 of “Civic Center.” Coralee at Charlie’s. Rollergirls return. I’m Not From Here Minter signs new book. Color: awesome. NCAA brackets strategy. Delmar von Lexington debut A guerilla gardening story. 4 — Film & Media The Frugal Fisherman. Two new movie reviews 7 — Opinion Who’s buying up all the damned ammo?. The Oscars in hindsight. Hotel Bauen remembered. 2 North of CeNter The Neighborhood East Enders (cont.) North of Center is a periodical, a place, and a perspective. Keep continued from page 1 ethic that demands we seek justice in in a God that can save me and take reading to find out what that the places where we live. me to heaven but can’t clothe me on means. walked down Race street, travelled “If you’re hungry, can I tell you this side, can’t put a roof on my head across south Martin luther King, Jr. what salvation is? How about giv- on this side, can’t keep me safe on this Editor & Publisher Boulevard, and eventually returned to ing me some bread? If I’m naked, side.” danny Mayer Greater liberty. how about giving me some clothes.

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