"The square is our last stand. If we lose it, China will retreat into another dark age, the people will once again turn against one other, with no real feelings or communication between them." ~Chai Ling, student protest leader
Thesis Statement
In Communist China in the 1980s, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping’s policy of “reform and opening up,” foreign investors were welcome. Restrictions on personal freedom, travel, commercial and artistic activity were lifted, but many intellectuals still wanted democratic reforms in the government. When Hu Yaobang, a moderate Party member who opposed government corruption, died in 1989, thousands of students went to Tiananmen Square to honor him. These students took a stand for democratic reform by presenting a list of demands to government officials for democracy and more freedoms. After several weeks of protests, over one million students and workers were taking a stand for democratic reform. The Chinese government decided to send troops into Tiananmen Square to clear the protesters. As a result of the troops coming into the Square, several hundreds to thousands of people were killed, and even more were wounded. Because of the protests, Deng Xiaoping and the Communist party made an implied bargain on political power with the people of China, giving them more personal freedom but less political freedom. Today, Chinese officials still try to suppress anyone standing up for democratic reform.
"Mass Protest--This photo was taken on June 2, 1989, showing hundreds of thousands gathered around the Goddess of Democracy." ("Tiananmen Square")