In case you weren't born yet, have long-term memory loss, or are really horrible with American history, Kent State University has a past. And not a good past.
On May 4, 1970, Kent State students held a protest over President Richard Nixon's announcement of the Cambodian Campaign of the Vietnam War. Because of previous protests, National Guard troops were called in to monitor. By the day's end though, thirteen students would be shot by those same troops. Nine were injured, four were dead.
The events led to the famous song 'Ohio' by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young:
This leads us to 2014, where overpriced clothier and housewares chain Urban Outfitters decided to sell a $129 'vintage' sweatshirt of Kent State, complete with a red spray pattern that looks strikingly like blood.
But we're all mistaken, Urban Outfitters insists. As they said in a press release:
“Urban Outfitters sincerely apologizes for any offense our Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt may have caused. It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such… There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray.”
Oh, okay then. It's not a horrible shirt making a buck off dead protesters. It's just a horrible shirt with blood-colored discolorations, holes, and fray.
Let me grab my wallet then.
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