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WATCH: 'College Fest' Ends in Tear Gas
Annual block party pits partiers against police
Editor's note: amateur video of Saturday's events, attached to this article, contains foul language. Viewer discretion is advised.
The annual block party known as "College Fest" held to celebrate the end of the school year atKent State University ended in a cloud of tear gas Saturday night.
Kent Police, with support from area police departments, tried to disperse a crowd of thousands of people who gathered on East College Avenue between 7 and 9 p.m. with messages of "The party is over" broadcast over megaphones followed by blasts of tear gas canisters.
Some in the crowd responded by throwing bottles at the police.
KentWired reported that police tried to disperse the crowd after several violent fights broke out. Firefighters also had to respond to a fire set on University Drive, according to police radio traffic.
Fox 8 news reported that 3,000 people swarmed the block for the unnofficial party.
Police closed off portions of Lincoln Street, College Avenue and Haymaker Parkway as part of the effort to quell the activity.
The university issued a statement, with Kent State spokesperson Emily Vincent telling KentWired that the university "is closely monitoring today’s events and supports the city in its efforts to keep celebrations safe for everyone involved."
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