CLEVELAND — Hundreds are expected to gather at Kent State today for the 54th anniversary of the May 4 shootings.

At noon, visitors will meet to commemorate the moment the National Guard opened fire on protesters, killing four and wounding nine more.

Sophia Swengel, the chair of the May 4 Task Force, said it is not lost on her that this year's commemoration is happening as anti-war protests are taking place across the country.

Every year, the May 4 Task Force creates a banner that is hung during the commemoration. This year's message reads: “Flowers are better than bullets at Kent State and Jackson State, Palestine and across America.”

“It’s just so relevant to today’s world, where people are choosing violence over peace,” Swengel said. “We decided to use it to make our own little statement.” 

She believes it’s important to keep the history of May 4 alive and to honor those who lost their lives.

“Their memories as living people deserve to live on," she said. "Their individual lives are inspiring to any Kent State student, really. It is really powerful that their images have inspired so many to wage campaigns of peace and fight against war.” 

During the commemoration, there will also be a pro-Palestinian protest.