A survivor of the infamous Kent State University shooting is sounding the alarm over the U.S. military’s involvement in recent protests across Los Angeles. Chic Canfora, who was a student protester during the 1970 tragedy that left four students dead at the hands of the Ohio National Guard, sees disturbing parallels between then and now.
Now a journalism professor at Kent State, Canfora said she is deeply unsettled by the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to widespread immigration-related demonstrations.
“It’s just unconscionable that now the U.S. Marines, and not just the National Guard, are being deployed to an American city — not to respond to some foreign threat, but to stand in opposition to peaceful protests in Los Angeles,” Canfora stated. “That does not belong in a democracy.”
Anti-Trump Protests Erupt Nationwide
Los Angeles has become the epicenter of protests against former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the recent ICE raids. Tensions have escalated, leading to over 350 arrests across the U.S. in cities including New York, Chicago, Seattle, Austin, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. California officials have launched legal action to challenge the military presence, while federal authorities argue it’s a necessary measure for maintaining public safety.
But for Canfora and many others, this justification doesn’t hold up.
A Call to Defend Democracy
Drawing from her own experience during the Vietnam War protests, Canfora reminded current activists that peaceful protest is a time-honored American tradition.
“All of you who are doing this important work are part of a long line of Americans who have refused to be silenced,” she said. “And you are what democracy looks like.”
She emphasized that the presence of military forces in civilian demonstrations raises serious constitutional concerns and threatens to erode civil liberties.
Warning: Stay Vigilant and Peaceful
Canfora also issued a stark warning to protesters: be cautious of individuals who may attempt to incite violence and tarnish the movement’s reputation.
“It’s very, very important for activists today and for all the protesters out there to be aware of people among them that don’t belong,” she said. “To isolate and expose those who are trying to make them look violent when they’re not.”
This type of infiltration, she warned, has been used in the past to discredit nonviolent movements.
“History Is Watching”
As protests continue to ripple across the nation, Canfora urged Americans—particularly in her home state of Ohio—not to ignore the warning signs.
“History is watching,” she said. “The use of military force against civilian protestors anywhere in the United States threatens democracy everywhere.”
Her message is clear: America must remember its past to protect its future.
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