Allison Krause

Allison Krause was an American undergraduate student at Kent State University who was killed by the Ohio Army National Guard during the Kent State shootings on May 4, 1970. Her death, along with those of Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer, and William Knox Schroeder, became a pivotal moment in the anti-Vietnam War movement and a symbol of the era's political and generational divisions. Krause was a 19-year-old honors student majoring in art history and was known for her political activism and involvement in campus protests against the Cambodian Campaign.

Early life and education

Allison Krause was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in the suburb of University Heights. She attended John F. Kennedy High School, where she was an honors student and a member of the National Honor Society. In the fall of 1969, she enrolled at Kent State University as a freshman, where she pursued a degree in art history and lived in Beall Hall. Described by friends and family as intelligent, compassionate, and politically aware, Krause was actively engaged in the social issues of the time, including the growing civil rights movement and opposition to the Vietnam War.

Kent State shootings

The events leading to Krause's death began with escalating protests at Kent State University following President Richard Nixon's announcement of the Cambodian Campaign on April 30, 1970. On May 4, a scheduled rally on the university's Commons drew the attention of the Ohio Army National Guard, which had been deployed to the campus. During the confrontation, Krause was observed near the Taylor Hall parking lot when guardsmen opened fire. She was struck by a single gunshot from a .30-06 Springfield round fired by a guardsman, which proved fatal. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and subsequent investigations, including the Scranton Commission, concluded that the guardsmen were not in imminent danger, contradicting claims made by the Ohio National Guard.

Aftermath and legacy

Krause's death, along with the other victims, triggered immediate national outrage and became a flashpoint in American politics. Her father, Arthur Krause, became a prominent advocate for accountability, meeting with President Richard Nixon and testifying before the United States Senate. The incident fueled massive student strikes across the nation, including at institutions like the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Michigan, and influenced public opinion against the Vietnam War. The legal aftermath included a wrongful death lawsuit, *Krause v. Ohio*, which was eventually settled. Memorials at Kent State University, including the May 4 Memorial and the annual May 4 Commemoration, honor her memory and the broader impact of the tragedy on the anti-war movement.

In popular culture

The Kent State shootings and Allison Krause have been referenced and depicted in numerous cultural works. She is mentioned in the protest song "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, which was written in direct response to the events. The incident is a central subject in the documentary film *Kent State* and is dramatized in the television movie *Kent State*. Her story is also explored in books such as *The Kent State Coverup* by Joseph Kelner and *13 Seconds: Confrontation at Kent State*. Artistic tributes include the sculpture *The Kent State Memorial* and references in the poetry of Michele Wallace.