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20th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Crackdown

Twenty years ago, on June 4, 1989, hundreds of Chinese pro-democracy demonstrators were killed when tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square in central Beijing to squash a six-week long, student-led protest.

A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks headed east on Beijing's Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. Hundreds, possibly thousands of protesters were killed by the Chinese military on June 3 and 4, 1989, as tanks rolled into the square, crushing six weeks of unprecedented democracy protests in the heart of the Chinese capital. Dissidents and human rights advocates around the world will mark June 4, 2009 as the 20th anniversary of China's bloody crackdown.

June 5, 1989

A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks headed east on Beijing's Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. Hundreds, possibly thousands of protesters were killed by the Chinese military on June 3 and 4, 1989, as tanks rolled into the square, crushing six weeks of unprecedented democracy protests in the heart of the Chinese capital. Dissidents and human rights advocates around the world will mark June 4, 2009 as the 20th anniversary of China's bloody crackdown.

Jeff Widener-AP

Despite a declaration of martial law in parts of Beijing banning demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of Chinese gather in Tiananmen Square in this photo taken on June 2, 1989. The round of pro-democracy protests began on May 13 when, in anticipation of Mikhail Gorbachev's upcoming visit, a few thousand Chinese students began a sit-in and hunger strike in Tiananmen Square. Older intellectuals, teachers, and even factory workers later joined the protest until the uprising was crushed by the Chinese military on orders from the Communist government.

June 2, 1989

Despite a declaration of martial law in parts of Beijing banning demonstrations, hundreds of thousands of Chinese gather in Tiananmen Square in this photo taken on June 2, 1989. The round of pro-democracy protests began on May 13 when, in anticipation of Mikhail Gorbachev's upcoming visit, a few thousand Chinese students began a sit-in and hunger strike in Tiananmen Square. Older intellectuals, teachers, and even factory workers later joined the protest until the uprising was crushed by the Chinese military on orders from the Communist government.

Catherine Henriette-AFP/Getty Images

In this photo taken on May 30, 1989, students and residents of Beijing gather in Tiananmen Square around a 33-foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty, called the Goddess of Democracy. Students from an art institute created the statue, placing it to face toward a huge picture of the late Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong. Tanks later flattened the statue when China's military crushed the protest.

May 30, 1989

In this photo taken on May 30, 1989, students and residents of Beijing gather in Tiananmen Square around a 33-foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty, called the Goddess of Democracy. Students from an art institute created the statue, placing it to face toward a huge picture of the late Communist Party chairman Mao Zedong. Tanks later flattened the statue when China's military crushed the protest.

Toshio Sakai-AFP/Getty Images

Dissident students and workers armed with wooden sticks gather outside the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in this photo taken on June 3, 1989. To this day, the government has denied there was a massacre of civilians.

June 3, 1989

Dissident students and workers armed with wooden sticks gather outside the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in this photo taken on June 3, 1989. To this day, the government has denied there was a massacre of civilians.

Catherine Henriette-AFP/Getty Images

Local residents load the wounded on a rickshaw flatbed shortly after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) opened fire on the crowd in this June 4, 1989 photo. Although China's government has refused to release detailed casualty figures, growing documentation could force the government to review its excuse for the bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, a victims' group said in 1991.

June 4, 1989

Local residents load the wounded on a rickshaw flatbed shortly after the People's Liberation Army (PLA) opened fire on the crowd in this June 4, 1989 photo. Although China's government has refused to release detailed casualty figures, growing documentation could force the government to review its excuse for the bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators, a victims' group said in 1991.

Liu Heung Shing-AP

Dissident students force soldiers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to sit in front of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in this photo taken on June 3, 1989. Communist authorities later denounced the pro-democracy activists as counterrevolutionaries, and radio and television repeatedly broadcast telephone numbers for people to use to inform the government of suspected activists.

June 3, 1989

Dissident students force soldiers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to sit in front of the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square in this photo taken on June 3, 1989. Communist authorities later denounced the pro-democracy activists as counterrevolutionaries, and radio and television repeatedly broadcast telephone numbers for people to use to inform the government of suspected activists.

Catherine Henriette-AFP/Getty Images

This photo taken on June 3, 1989 shows exhausted soldiers after a night of clashes with pro-democracy demonstrators. On June 4, a government announcement warned that "the army has the right to use all means necessary to clear the square" and that "anyone not obeying the order must accept responsibility."

June 3, 1989

This photo taken on June 3, 1989 shows exhausted soldiers after a night of clashes with pro-democracy demonstrators. On June 4, a government announcement warned that "the army has the right to use all means necessary to clear the square" and that "anyone not obeying the order must accept responsibility."

Catherine Henriette-AFP/Getty Images

Wounded during the clash between the army and students, a girl is carried out on a cart in this photo from June 4, 1989. According to one witness, soldiers riding on tanks mowed down some students with automatic weapons and machine guns mounted on tanks. "We never expected that soldiers would kill students like that," the witness said.

June 4, 1989

Wounded during the clash between the army and students, a girl is carried out on a cart in this photo from June 4, 1989. According to one witness, soldiers riding on tanks mowed down some students with automatic weapons and machine guns mounted on tanks. "We never expected that soldiers would kill students like that," the witness said.

Manuel Ceneta-AFP/Getty Images

A dissident student asks soldiers to go back home as crowds flood into central Beijing in this photo taken on June 3, 1989. After the violent suppression of the demonstrators, the government initiated a propaganda effort to quell popular discontent and remove evidence of the military attack and public resistance to it.

June 3, 1989

A dissident student asks soldiers to go back home as crowds flood into central Beijing in this photo taken on June 3, 1989. After the violent suppression of the demonstrators, the government initiated a propaganda effort to quell popular discontent and remove evidence of the military attack and public resistance to it.

Catherine Henriette-AFP/Getty Images

Beijing residents inspect the interior of one of more than 20 armored personnel carriers burned by demonstrators to prevent troops from moving into Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. The 20th anniversary this week of the deadly Tiananmen crackdown will kick off an ultra-sensitive period for China's communist rulers. April 15, 2009, marked the beginning of a period of heightened tension and increased security in China that will last until June 4, the date in 1989 when soldiers were sent into Tiananmen Square to crush six weeks of democracy protests.

June 4, 1989

Beijing residents inspect the interior of one of more than 20 armored personnel carriers burned by demonstrators to prevent troops from moving into Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. The 20th anniversary this week of the deadly Tiananmen crackdown will kick off an ultra-sensitive period for China's communist rulers. April 15, 2009, marked the beginning of a period of heightened tension and increased security in China that will last until June 4, the date in 1989 when soldiers were sent into Tiananmen Square to crush six weeks of democracy protests.

Manuel Ceneta-AFP/Getty Images

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