On May 12 , 1977 , a tent city was erected and maintained for a period of more than 60 days by a group of several dozen protesters on the campus of Kent State University in Kent , Ohio , United States . The protesters , led by the May 4 Coalition but also including community members and local clergy , were attempting to prevent the university from erecting a gymnasium annex on part of the site where the Kent State shootings occurred in May 1970 , which they believed would alter and obscure that historical event . Law enforcement finally brought the tent city to an end on July 12 , 1977 , after the forced removal and arrest of 193 people . The event gained national press coverage and the issue was taken to the U.S. Supreme Court
Kent State shootings
Kent State shootings
Tent city