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Kent State Open Carry Walk Ends Without Much Walking

Counter-demonstrators showed up in force for an open carry walk by guns rights advocates on campus on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. [ Khabir Bhatia / WKSU ]
Counter-demonstrators showed up in force for an open carry walk by guns rights advocates on campus on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. [ Khabir Bhatia / WKSU ]

Kabir Bhatia, WKSU

The campus of Kent State University was quiet Monday morning, following an open carry gun rights walk on Saturday that turned violent and had prompted the closure of several campus buildings.

Protestors greeted the organizer, a recent Kent State graduate who started out leading about 100 people toward the school’s sports arena.  But the walk stopped there as protestors briefly pushed against law enforcement. Four arrests were made for disorderly conduct, and after close to an hour, the open carry group walked back to their cars.

The walk caused the cancellation of the Kent Creativity Festival as well as the closures of the library and other buildings on campus.  Zoology major Jordan Eadie was among the protestors, and said he wanted the open carry group to leave so the library could reopen.

“They told me that they paid for my campus.  But I have also paid for my campus,” said Eadie. “They said that they pay taxes, but I also pay taxes. Yeah, that’s true, but I really don’t care because I want to use my library.”

Police from throughout the state were on hand in riot gear, and kept the open carry group separated from protestors.