Tiananmen Square is a large public square located in the center of Beijing, China. In 1989, it was the site of major pro-democracy protests and a violent crackdown by the Chinese government. The protests were led by students and other citizens who were calling for democratic reforms, free speech, a free press, and a free labor movement. The protests lasted for several weeks and culminated in the military opening fire on the protesters, killing hundreds if not thousands of people. This event is known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre and is considered a tragic and defining moment in modern Chinese history. The Chinese government has censored discussion of the Tiananmen Square protests within China and continues to downplay or deny the scale of the violence that occurred.
