How Communist Party of China crushed protesters at Tiananmen Square

On June 4, 1989, China declared a war on its own people. Tanks and armed personnel were sent to Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The same place where Mao Zedong declared the founding of China back in 1949.

Four decades later, the army marched into the square and targetted innocent protesters.They were demanding a corruption-free government, freedom of the press, political participation and democracy. The movement was massacred.

The cowardly act was carried out under the cover of night. Theday changed China forever.It all began on April 15, 1989. Leading reformer and former Communist Party chief Hu Yaobang died on thatday. Students poured into Beijing's Tiananmen Square to mourn his death.

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Mourners soon became protesters demanding reformsdemocracy and liberty.

Hu Yaobang's memorial service was held on April 22. At least 50,000 students gathered at the Great Hall of China. They wanted to submit their demands to their government but they were ignored.

A stinging editorial was published in the Communist Party mouthpiece. The People's Daily called the students"planned conspirators". It enraged the students andprotests escalated.

There were marches across China. In Beijing and Shanghaithousands of students gathered at Tiananmen Square. They wanted democracy and nothing less.

On May 13, students began a hunger strike and five days into it, some of them began to faint. People across Beijing brought food forthe students. More people gathered on the streets to show support.

On May 19, Communist Party chief Zhao Ziyang visited Tiananmen Square along with Premier Li Peng. He urged students to disperse.

They ignored the request andcontinued camping at Tiananmen Square calling for change. The square soon turned into an island of liberty.

On May 30, students unveiled a 33-ft statue at the square. It was called the goddess of democracy. It was modelled on the Statue of Libertybut free speech did not last.

On June 3 at 9:50 PM, authorities asked people to stay away from Tiananmen Square. No one had a clue what was to follow.

Thousands of soldiers assembled outside Beijing. The lights at Tiananmen square went off. Soon tanks started rolling in and troops marched in from all corners.

The order from the Communist Party was clear-- vacate Tiananmen Square by 6 am. Troops started firing at the unarmed students.

There was gunfire throughout the night. The goddess of democracy was pulled down. The movement was crushed.

No one knows how many students were killed that night. Estimates range from a hundred to a few thousand.