Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989

In spring 1989 students and workers occupied Tiananmen Square in Beijing calling for political reform until the army cleared the area on 4 June.

Overview

The death of the reformist leader Hu Yaobang in April 1989 sparked student gatherings in Tiananmen Square that grew into a protest movement against corruption and for freedom of speech and the press. Workers and citizens joined, demonstrations spread to many cities, and students began a hunger strike in May. The government declared martial law on 20 May. On the night of 3 to 4 June troops and tanks advanced into central Beijing, firing on crowds. The death toll remains disputed and estimates range from several hundred to several thousand. The Communist Party purged Zhao Ziyang, who had sympathized with the students, and the events remain heavily censored in China.