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Kent State 50th Anniversary concert cancelled due to coronavirus

Joe Walsh and David Crosby were due to play.

David Crosby, Joe Walsh

Images: Scott Dudelson / Kevin Kane / Getty

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An upcoming commemorative concert marking the 50th anniversary of the Kent State shootings has been cancelled.

The performance was due to take place on 2 May at the university’s Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center. But, due to overall increases in social distancing measures, a virtual memorial will now instead be held.

The concert remembers the events of 4 May 1970, when 28 National Guard soldiers fired into a student protest against the extension of the Vietnam War. Four were killed, and nine wounded.

David Crosby and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh were due to headline, both of whom had a connection to the tragedy. At the time, Joe Walsh was attending Kent State as an English major and music minor. He spoke to the San Diego Tribune in 2012 about his experience “After that, I didn’t look at college the same,” he told the San Diego Tribune. “Being at the shootings really affected me profoundly. I decided that maybe I don’t need a degree that bad.”

David Crosby also performed on the notable Crosby, Stills and Nash protest song Ohio, written in response to the shootings.

More details on the replacement virtual memorial are yet to be announced.

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Keep updated with coronavirus-related event cancellation/postponements here.

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