Bill Whitaker and Barbara Whitaker

Bill Whitaker and Barbara Whitaker

Recorded September 19, 2009 00:00 minutes
Audio not available

Interview ID: MBX005836

Description

Bill Whitaker and friend/ex-wife Barbara Watson Whitaker “Bobbi” talk about Kent State in 1969. They were both students at the time, and Bill was highly active with the movement as well as with the legal defense following.

Subject Log / Time Code

3:08
Bill talks about the growth of the anti-war movement at Kent State, which started in 1965 with just a few students, but grew to have thousands of students by the time they were demonstrating in 1969.
6:15
Bill and Bobbi talk about the burning of the ROTC building as response to US. invasion of Cambodia. Administration called National Guard.
13:28
At the time, Bill was a law student demonstrating at Akron University. Heard guard had opened fire on Kent students.
16:29
Bill joined the Kent Legal Defense Committee and worked to try to stop the prosecutions of the 20 students indicted for rioting.
29:28
Bill’s legal career has been determined largely by the event. He works for civil rights, etc. He talks about other student demonstrations, including Kent expelling all Black students via expelling Black United Student group.

Participants

  • Bill Whitaker
  • Barbara Whitaker

Venue / Recording Kit