KENT, Ohio — Fifty years ago on May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard opened fire into a crowd of unarmed Kent State University demonstrators who were protesting American involvement in the Vietnam War.

In 13 seconds, four students were killed and nine others were wounded.

"It's a crime that no one has ever accounted for and bigger than that, it's a crime in our society that the media was manipulated to make it seem like the victims were the criminals like peaceful protest was a criminal act,"  said Joe Lewis, wounded during the May 4th shooting. "I think that's the most important thing to take away that we can never have this kind of incident again."

"I was one of the wounded students 50 years ago, I was shot in the chest near the iron sculpture, next to Taylor Hall. I wasn't a protester, but a student going to class, whose curiosity brought me to the commons to watch a noon rally. I was caught in their line of fire, falling immediately after being shot. It was the first time that the US military was sent onto an American college campus where lives were taken not protected," said John Cleary, wounded during May 4th shooting.

The shootings at Kent State University are considered a turning point in American History. The events triggered a nationwide student strike that forced hundreds of colleges and universities to close. The campus shootings symbolized a deep political and social divide in the country, division that's still relevant today.

"I think we're still learning about polarizing content and points of views in our society and how do we deal with them, and how do we accept people who have very different views from us, sometimes very divisive views, how can we reconcile these differences peacefully so that things don't escalate again? You know, May 4th, some people say it was another school shooting, no, this was about freedom of expression," said Rod Flauhaus, project manager, 50th commemoration of May 4th, 1970, Kent State University.

The 50th commemoration was moved to a virtual format following the spread of COVID-19. The special video tribute included witness accounts of the events, survivor interviews and the song that became the anthem of that tragic day, "Ohio," by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Flauhaus says while the university recognizes and honors the lives lost on May 4, 1970 every year, this year's special tribute will help heal so many whose still living with the images of that fateful day.

"We're at that point where the people who were involved in May 4th are late 60s through their 80s and unfortunately we're losing them each year. We wanted to make sure that we did something for them, and they wanted to have some type of observance where, you know, it really helped them to heal a little bit more and reconcile.  It really was an important part of history and we wanted to remind people, how important it was in American history," said Flahaus.

Watch the special tribute here.