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"We see Ms. Smith's appointment and career background as a travesty and an insult to all those that seek peace and social justice."(Photo: Time & Life images)
Facing a growing backlash from the Kent State May 4 community, Stephanie Smith, a 25-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, is stepping down as the chair of the Kent State 50th May 4 Commemoration Advisory Committee.

"Out of respect for the profound concerns held by some members of Kent State's May 4 community about my former work in national security, I am stepping down as university chair of the 50th commemoration," Smith wrote on her Facebook page. "I will continue to encourage my students to join me in active inquiry about how the events of May 4, 1970, are relevant today and especially to ponder the dangers of polarization and the power of reconciliation. Long live the spirit of Kent and Jackson State."
Laurel Krause is the sister of Allison Krause, one of the four student protesters killed in the May 4, 1970 Kent State massacre. In 2010 Laurel Krause co-founded the Kent State Truth Tribunal, seeking accountability and reconciliation at Kent State.
She helped organize a public campaign over the last week to get Kent State President Beverly Warren to reverse her decision to appoint Smith.
"This is a people's victory for all fighting for peace and justice in America," Krause said.
"We see Ms. Smith's appointment and career background as a travesty and an insult to all those that seek peace and social justice."
Smith's Kent State faculty page shares that she "co-founded the Department's Counter Terrorism Communications Center to strengthen and integrate all United States Government counter-terrorism messaging," pictures Smith in her CIA photo and highlights her abilities in public relations.
"Will Ms. Smith be tasked with Kent State re-messaging and hiding Kent State Truth?" the letter to Warren asked. "Appointing Ms. Smith obstructs the participation of Kent State massacre survivors, disrespects the original Kent State protesters' stand for peace and, 49 years later, what loved ones died for and the wounds all Kent State survivors carry."
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Facing a growing backlash from the Kent State May 4 community, Stephanie Smith, a 25-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, is stepping down as the chair of the Kent State 50th May 4 Commemoration Advisory Committee.

"Out of respect for the profound concerns held by some members of Kent State's May 4 community about my former work in national security, I am stepping down as university chair of the 50th commemoration," Smith wrote on her Facebook page. "I will continue to encourage my students to join me in active inquiry about how the events of May 4, 1970, are relevant today and especially to ponder the dangers of polarization and the power of reconciliation. Long live the spirit of Kent and Jackson State."
Laurel Krause is the sister of Allison Krause, one of the four student protesters killed in the May 4, 1970 Kent State massacre. In 2010 Laurel Krause co-founded the Kent State Truth Tribunal, seeking accountability and reconciliation at Kent State.
She helped organize a public campaign over the last week to get Kent State President Beverly Warren to reverse her decision to appoint Smith.
"This is a people's victory for all fighting for peace and justice in America," Krause said.
"We see Ms. Smith's appointment and career background as a travesty and an insult to all those that seek peace and social justice."
Smith's Kent State faculty page shares that she "co-founded the Department's Counter Terrorism Communications Center to strengthen and integrate all United States Government counter-terrorism messaging," pictures Smith in her CIA photo and highlights her abilities in public relations.
"Will Ms. Smith be tasked with Kent State re-messaging and hiding Kent State Truth?" the letter to Warren asked. "Appointing Ms. Smith obstructs the participation of Kent State massacre survivors, disrespects the original Kent State protesters' stand for peace and, 49 years later, what loved ones died for and the wounds all Kent State survivors carry."
Facing a growing backlash from the Kent State May 4 community, Stephanie Smith, a 25-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, is stepping down as the chair of the Kent State 50th May 4 Commemoration Advisory Committee.

"Out of respect for the profound concerns held by some members of Kent State's May 4 community about my former work in national security, I am stepping down as university chair of the 50th commemoration," Smith wrote on her Facebook page. "I will continue to encourage my students to join me in active inquiry about how the events of May 4, 1970, are relevant today and especially to ponder the dangers of polarization and the power of reconciliation. Long live the spirit of Kent and Jackson State."
Laurel Krause is the sister of Allison Krause, one of the four student protesters killed in the May 4, 1970 Kent State massacre. In 2010 Laurel Krause co-founded the Kent State Truth Tribunal, seeking accountability and reconciliation at Kent State.
She helped organize a public campaign over the last week to get Kent State President Beverly Warren to reverse her decision to appoint Smith.
"This is a people's victory for all fighting for peace and justice in America," Krause said.
"We see Ms. Smith's appointment and career background as a travesty and an insult to all those that seek peace and social justice."
Smith's Kent State faculty page shares that she "co-founded the Department's Counter Terrorism Communications Center to strengthen and integrate all United States Government counter-terrorism messaging," pictures Smith in her CIA photo and highlights her abilities in public relations.
"Will Ms. Smith be tasked with Kent State re-messaging and hiding Kent State Truth?" the letter to Warren asked. "Appointing Ms. Smith obstructs the participation of Kent State massacre survivors, disrespects the original Kent State protesters' stand for peace and, 49 years later, what loved ones died for and the wounds all Kent State survivors carry."