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Kent State - Justice And Morality, John P. Adams

Cleveland State Law Review

In the months that followed the killing at Kent State, it became apparent that there was another ministry which was needed. It was not a matter of exercising the "moral authority" as the President suggested, to condemn "... violence and disruption as instruments of change ...." Rather, it became apparent that "moral authority" would be needed to assure that accountability would be established for the abuse of governmental authority and the misuse of military firepower against civilian student dissenters. Violence had been used as an instrument to prevent change, and the moral authority of the religious community needed to be …