Tiananmen Square: 30 years since democracy protests squashed
Tiananmen Square: 30 years since democracy protests squashed
Civilians with rocks stand on a government armored vehicle near Chang’an Boulevard in Beijing as violence escalated between pro-democracy protesters and Chinese troops, leaving hundreds dead overnight, June 4, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Pro Democracy demonstrators carry portraits of former Chinese rulers Mao Tse-Tung and Chou En-Lai as they march to join student strikers at Tiananmen Square, May 18, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Enthusiastic demonstrators are cheered by bystanders as they arrive at Tiananmen Square to show support for the student hunger strike, Thursday, May 18, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Protesters from all walks of life and all age groups march for democracy in the streets of Beijing near Tiananmen Square, May 23, 1989. (AP Photo/Jim Palmer)
Beijing youths ride atop a car as they parade to Tiananmen Square for a freedom rally, Wednesday, May 17, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Tens of thousands of students and citizens crowd at the Martyr’s Monument at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, April 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
More than seven thousand students from local colleges and universities march to Tiananmen Square, Beijing, May 4, 1989, to demonstrate for government reform. (AP Photo/Mikami)
A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing’s Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A striking Beijing University student is given first aid by medics at a field hospital in Tiananmen Square at Beijing, Wednesday, May 17, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Protesters occupying Beijing’s Tiananmen Square work on the statue of the Goddess of Democracy, May 30, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A young Chinese girl dances on Tiananmen Square about June 1, 1989, as pro-democracy protesters continued to occupy the square. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Unidentified Beijing youths chant as they drive to Tiananmen Square to lend their enthusiastic support to striking university students, Friday, May 19, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
This is a May 27, 1989 photo of student leader Wang Dan in Tiananmen Square Beijing calling for a city wide march. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A young unidentified couple, two out of thousands of university students who are holding Tiananmen Square occupied for nine days, pass the time with a lively dance on Monday morning, May 22, 1989 in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A Beijing University student sounds off during a rally in Tiananmen Square, Thursday, May 25, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
The portrait of Mao Zedong faces off a statue dubbed “The Goddess of Democracy” by students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, who modeled it after the Statue of Liberty, during the student protest on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, May 30, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A man who identified himself as a former political prisoner relates his experiences to striking students in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on May 28, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A young woman is caught between civilians and Chinese soldiers, who were trying to remove her from an assembly near the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, June 3, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
An unidentified student demonstrator offers food to Peoples’ Liberation Army troops in Feng Tai near Beijing, Sunday, May 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
Beijing university students wave fists and flags as five Chinese military helicopters buzz Tiananmen Square at dawn, May 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
PLA soldiers locked in arms try to march past a human blockade of students outside of the Great Hall of People in this June 3, 1989 photo. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
A student pro-democracy protester flashes victory signs to the crowd as People’s Liberation Army troops withdraw near Tiananmen Square on Saturday, June 3, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A woman soldier sings among pro-democracy protesters occupying Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, about June 2, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Bicycle commuters, sparse in numbers, pass through a tunnel as above on the overpass military tanks are positioned in Beijing, China, two days after the Tiananmen Square massacre,on Tuesday morning, June 6, 1989. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
An anti-government protester in Beijing holds a rifle in a bus window, June 3, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Three unidentified men flee the scene, as a Chinese man, background left, stands alone to block a line of approaching tanks, background right, in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, June 5, 1989. (AP Photo/Terril Jones)
Civilians with rocks stand on a government armored vehicle near Chang’an Boulevard in Beijing as violence escalated between pro-democracy protesters and Chinese troops, leaving hundreds dead overnight, June 4, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Civilians with rocks stand on a government armored vehicle near Chang’an Boulevard in Beijing as violence escalated between pro-democracy protesters and Chinese troops, leaving hundreds dead overnight, June 4, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Pro Democracy demonstrators carry portraits of former Chinese rulers Mao Tse-Tung and Chou En-Lai as they march to join student strikers at Tiananmen Square, May 18, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Pro Democracy demonstrators carry portraits of former Chinese rulers Mao Tse-Tung and Chou En-Lai as they march to join student strikers at Tiananmen Square, May 18, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Enthusiastic demonstrators are cheered by bystanders as they arrive at Tiananmen Square to show support for the student hunger strike, Thursday, May 18, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Enthusiastic demonstrators are cheered by bystanders as they arrive at Tiananmen Square to show support for the student hunger strike, Thursday, May 18, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Protesters from all walks of life and all age groups march for democracy in the streets of Beijing near Tiananmen Square, May 23, 1989. (AP Photo/Jim Palmer)
Protesters from all walks of life and all age groups march for democracy in the streets of Beijing near Tiananmen Square, May 23, 1989. (AP Photo/Jim Palmer)
Beijing youths ride atop a car as they parade to Tiananmen Square for a freedom rally, Wednesday, May 17, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Beijing youths ride atop a car as they parade to Tiananmen Square for a freedom rally, Wednesday, May 17, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Tens of thousands of students and citizens crowd at the Martyr’s Monument at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, April 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Tens of thousands of students and citizens crowd at the Martyr’s Monument at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, April 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
More than seven thousand students from local colleges and universities march to Tiananmen Square, Beijing, May 4, 1989, to demonstrate for government reform. (AP Photo/Mikami)
More than seven thousand students from local colleges and universities march to Tiananmen Square, Beijing, May 4, 1989, to demonstrate for government reform. (AP Photo/Mikami)
A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing’s Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing’s Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A striking Beijing University student is given first aid by medics at a field hospital in Tiananmen Square at Beijing, Wednesday, May 17, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
A striking Beijing University student is given first aid by medics at a field hospital in Tiananmen Square at Beijing, Wednesday, May 17, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Protesters occupying Beijing’s Tiananmen Square work on the statue of the Goddess of Democracy, May 30, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Protesters occupying Beijing’s Tiananmen Square work on the statue of the Goddess of Democracy, May 30, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A young Chinese girl dances on Tiananmen Square about June 1, 1989, as pro-democracy protesters continued to occupy the square. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A young Chinese girl dances on Tiananmen Square about June 1, 1989, as pro-democracy protesters continued to occupy the square. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Unidentified Beijing youths chant as they drive to Tiananmen Square to lend their enthusiastic support to striking university students, Friday, May 19, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Unidentified Beijing youths chant as they drive to Tiananmen Square to lend their enthusiastic support to striking university students, Friday, May 19, 1989, Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
This is a May 27, 1989 photo of student leader Wang Dan in Tiananmen Square Beijing calling for a city wide march. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
This is a May 27, 1989 photo of student leader Wang Dan in Tiananmen Square Beijing calling for a city wide march. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A young unidentified couple, two out of thousands of university students who are holding Tiananmen Square occupied for nine days, pass the time with a lively dance on Monday morning, May 22, 1989 in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A young unidentified couple, two out of thousands of university students who are holding Tiananmen Square occupied for nine days, pass the time with a lively dance on Monday morning, May 22, 1989 in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A Beijing University student sounds off during a rally in Tiananmen Square, Thursday, May 25, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
A Beijing University student sounds off during a rally in Tiananmen Square, Thursday, May 25, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
The portrait of Mao Zedong faces off a statue dubbed “The Goddess of Democracy” by students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, who modeled it after the Statue of Liberty, during the student protest on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, May 30, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
The portrait of Mao Zedong faces off a statue dubbed “The Goddess of Democracy” by students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, who modeled it after the Statue of Liberty, during the student protest on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, May 30, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A man who identified himself as a former political prisoner relates his experiences to striking students in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on May 28, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A man who identified himself as a former political prisoner relates his experiences to striking students in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on May 28, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A young woman is caught between civilians and Chinese soldiers, who were trying to remove her from an assembly near the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, June 3, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A young woman is caught between civilians and Chinese soldiers, who were trying to remove her from an assembly near the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, June 3, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
An unidentified student demonstrator offers food to Peoples’ Liberation Army troops in Feng Tai near Beijing, Sunday, May 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
An unidentified student demonstrator offers food to Peoples’ Liberation Army troops in Feng Tai near Beijing, Sunday, May 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
Beijing university students wave fists and flags as five Chinese military helicopters buzz Tiananmen Square at dawn, May 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
Beijing university students wave fists and flags as five Chinese military helicopters buzz Tiananmen Square at dawn, May 21, 1989. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami)
PLA soldiers locked in arms try to march past a human blockade of students outside of the Great Hall of People in this June 3, 1989 photo. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
PLA soldiers locked in arms try to march past a human blockade of students outside of the Great Hall of People in this June 3, 1989 photo. (AP Photo/Liu Heung Shing)
A student pro-democracy protester flashes victory signs to the crowd as People’s Liberation Army troops withdraw near Tiananmen Square on Saturday, June 3, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A student pro-democracy protester flashes victory signs to the crowd as People’s Liberation Army troops withdraw near Tiananmen Square on Saturday, June 3, 1989 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)
A woman soldier sings among pro-democracy protesters occupying Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, about June 2, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
A woman soldier sings among pro-democracy protesters occupying Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, about June 2, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Bicycle commuters, sparse in numbers, pass through a tunnel as above on the overpass military tanks are positioned in Beijing, China, two days after the Tiananmen Square massacre,on Tuesday morning, June 6, 1989. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
Bicycle commuters, sparse in numbers, pass through a tunnel as above on the overpass military tanks are positioned in Beijing, China, two days after the Tiananmen Square massacre,on Tuesday morning, June 6, 1989. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
An anti-government protester in Beijing holds a rifle in a bus window, June 3, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
An anti-government protester in Beijing holds a rifle in a bus window, June 3, 1989. (AP Photo/Jeff Widener)
Three unidentified men flee the scene, as a Chinese man, background left, stands alone to block a line of approaching tanks, background right, in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, June 5, 1989. (AP Photo/Terril Jones)
Three unidentified men flee the scene, as a Chinese man, background left, stands alone to block a line of approaching tanks, background right, in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, June 5, 1989. (AP Photo/Terril Jones)
Over seven weeks in 1989, student-led pro-democracy protests centered on Beijing’s Tiananmen Square became China’s greatest political upheaval since the end of the Cultural Revolution more than a decade earlier.