1989 Tiananmen Square Protests

Protests and Massacre In Tiananmen Square

Starting on  April 3, 1989 a mass movement was held in China's Tiananmen Square. Chinese citizens were protesting against the government, and it's dictatorship, demanding a democratic reform.

The three month demonstration ended in unspeakable bloodshed. What took place the evening of June 4, 1989 was an atrocity committed by the Chinese government which went down in history as the Massacre In Tiananmen Square.

Martial Law Declared

The famous Tank Man photo

Initially, when the protests began, they were just brushed off by the Government. 

As time went on, however, support for the protesters spread to over 400 cities outside of Beijing. The movement was spreading.

Out of fear, Martial Law was declared, and over 300,000 troops were deployed to Beijing.

Foreign reporters were deported, multiple arrests were made, and local news was forbidden to report truthfully on what was going on.

Troops Open Fire

Innocent Citizens Killed

On the fateful day of June 4, troops stormed Beijing's Tiananmen Square to put an end to what was called a 'riot'.

They unloaded and shot everyone and everything who stood in their way. Tanks and soldiers tore through the Square, leaving in their wake a sea of dead bodies.

We may never know the total death toll left behind in this horrible event, as the Chinese government has never released a true number. Some reports say hundreds, but many believe the body count was in the thousands.

Many Western countries, including the United States condemned this act by the Chinese government , and placed trade embargoes on China and other sanctions.