Alec Baldwin stars in KENT STATE, which tells the story of the 1970s Vietnam War protest shootings

Alec Baldwin has signed on for his next feature film project Kent State. The film will tell the true story of “the violent and tragic events of May 4, 1970, when four students were killed by the National Guard during a campus protest against the Vietnam War.”

Baldwin will assume the role of Kent State President Robert I. White. The film is currently in pre-production and marks the directorial debut of Karen Slade, who also wrote the screenplay.

This is an interesting project for Baldwin, especially after the tragic accident on the set of his western, Rust. That film recently completed production nearly 18 months after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins fatal shooting on set.

The Kent State shootings occurred on May 4, 1970, and took place during a protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. The protest was in response to President Richard Nixon’s announcement of the US military’s invasion of Cambodia.

That day, thousands of students gathered on campus to voice their opposition to the expansion of the war. The protest began peacefully but eventually turned tense and confrontational as the National Guard was called in to maintain order. The guards, armed with rifles and bayonets, attempted to disperse the crowd using tear gas.

As tensions escalated, some protesters began throwing rocks and other objects at the guards, who then opened fire on the crowd. In just 13 seconds, approximately 67 rounds of ammunition were fired, resulting in the wounding of nine students and the deaths of four others: Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder. Two of the killed students were participating in the protest, while the other two were innocent bystanders.

The shootings sparked outrage and protests across the nation, with many seeing it as an excessive and inexcusable use of force against unarmed students. The incident intensified anti-war sentiment and led to widespread protests and strikes on campuses. It also highlighted the deep divisions within American society regarding the Vietnam War.

Subsequently, investigations and prosecutions took place. The guards involved in the shooting have been charged with various crimes, but their trials have resulted in either acquittals or dismissals.

Source: THR