Inspection of May 4 tapes to be aired online

The Kent State Truth Tribunal’s fourth and final presentation will air on filmmaker Michael Moore’s website over the weekend and will include an exposé of the famous recordings from May 4, 1970.

Laurel Krause, whose sister Allison Krause was one of the four fatally shot by the Ohio National Guard that day, co-founded KSTT along with filmmaker Emily Kunstler. They aim to uncover the facts of May 4, Krause said.

The presentation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on www.MichaelMoore.com. Krause said this last presentation will be like the others, with interviews and testimonies of witnesses, but it will also include audio professional Stuart Allen’s inspection of the May 4 recordings.

“It’s going to be history, and everyone can witness this incredible truth and the examination of the Kent State tape,” Krause said. “This has been very sought after, and it’s been long after denied.”

Allen, president of the Legal Services Group in Plainfield, N.J., examined a recording from May 4 with what he referred to as “extremely sophisticated software” used to study and enhance tapes that are difficult to understand.

Allen said he came to the conclusion that there was a distinct “all right, prepare to fire” order given before the National Guard opened fire on the student protestors. Although Allen’s findings could prove the Guard was given a clear order, he said the actual order to open fire couldn’t be deciphered.

The Legal Services Group, which performs criminal forensics on high-profile crimes, received no money for examining the tape. Allen said his interest in the recordings is simply historical.

“If people can be held accountable after 40 years, that’s not for us to decide,” Allen said. “Hopefully somebody will take a closer look at this that’s not politically involved.”

Alan Canfora, one of the nine wounded May 4, 1970, said he hopes Allen’s discovery will incite further discussion and ultimately cause the government to reexamine May 4.

“I think this is further proof that the federal government and the state government need to have further investigation of the Kent State massacre,” Canfora said. “I hope that we can ascertain the ultimate truth.”

Krause said she approached Michael Moore, famed for the documentary “Fahrenheit 9/11,” for help with KSTT. He agreed to support and endorse the organization by broadcasting its presentations on his website.

This final presentation’s goal is to unearth the truth of exactly what happened on May 4, Krause said, and to finally locate those responsible for the four students’ deaths.

“We want to correct the history of what is recorded about Kent State because it is absolutely wrong,” Krause said. “It’s not even acknowledged. More importantly and most importantly, we would like an apology.”

You can contact Taylor Rogers at [email protected].