1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre

The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests were a series of demonstrations led by students and joined by workers and other citizens in Beijing and other Chinese cities, calling for political reform, press freedom and action against corruption. They began in April 1989 after the death of the reformist leader Hu Yaobang. The government declared martial law in May, and on the night of 3 to 4 June troops and tanks cleared Tiananmen Square and the surrounding streets, firing on civilians. The number of dead is disputed and has never been officially established, with estimates ranging from several hundred to a few thousand. The Chinese government has since suppressed discussion of the events, and the date remains a symbol of repression.

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