THIS DAY IN HISTORY – Chinese crackdown on protests leads to Tiananmen Square Massacre – 1989

Via History.com

File photo of protesters

Protesters in Tiananmen Square

PHOTO: Tanks sit in a street in Beijing two days after the suppression of the pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square.

PHOTO: Pedestrians wander Chang'an Avenue the day after the PLA's brutal crackdown on student demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, June 2, 1989.

US Salutes 'Heroes' of Tiananmen Square Protests Killed by Chinese Soldiers

Chinese troops storm through Tiananmen Square in the center of Beijing, killing and arresting thousands of pro-democracy protesters. The brutal Chinese government assault on the protesters shocked the West and brought denunciations and sanctions from the United States.

In May 1989, nearly a million Chinese, mostly young students, crowded into central Beijing to protest for greater democracy and call for the resignations of Chinese Communist Party leaders deemed too repressive. For nearly three weeks, the protesters kept up daily vigils, and marched and chanted. Western reporters captured much of the drama for television and newspaper audiences in the United States and Europe.

On June 4, 1989, however, Chinese troops and security police stormed through Tiananmen Square, firing indiscriminately into the crowds of protesters. Turmoil ensued, as tens of thousands of the young students tried to escape the rampaging Chinese forces. Other protesters fought back, stoning the attacking troops and overturning and setting fire to military vehicles. Reporters and Western diplomats on the scene estimated that at least 300, and perhaps thousands, of the protesters had been killed and as many as 10,000 were arrested.

The savagery of the Chinese government’s attack shocked both its allies and Cold War enemies. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared that he was saddened by the events in China. He said he hoped that the government would adopt his own domestic reform program and begin to democratize the Chinese political system.

In the United States, editorialists and members of Congress denounced the Tiananmen Square massacre and pressed for President George Bush to punish the Chinese government. A little more than three weeks later, the U.S. Congress voted to impose economic sanctions against the People’s Republic of China in response to the brutal violation of human rights.

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3 Comments
m
m
June 4, 2022 9:00 am

I can simply copy my comment from last year: 😀

And now for the non-government-approved version, which is likely much closer to the truth:
https://archives.cjr.org/behind_the_news/the_myth_of_tiananmen.php

(I also once had believed the Western propaganda.)

Ken31
Ken31
June 4, 2022 10:24 am

Oh look, more fake history.

Gary
Gary
June 4, 2022 1:26 pm

Tank Man, that may just be the most badass picture/footage I’ve ever seen. It stirs the heart.