Hu Yaobang was a leader of the People's Republic of China and a dedicated reformer who was deposed from his position. His ideas of freedom of speech and freedom of press greatly influenced the students of China. Following his death, approximately 100,000 students gathered at Tiananmen Square on 21 April 1989 to commemorate Hu and protest against China's autocratic communist government. The government declared martial law in Beijing in May, and in June. In addition troops and tanks were sent in to retake the square. On 4 June 1989 between 2,000 and 4,000 students were massacred by the tanks and infantry, although exact figures have never been determined due to suppression by the Chinese government. Many protestors were also arrested and executed in the months following after the protests. The event sparked international condemnation of China, and harsh economic sanctions were imposed on China until the nation released some of those who were arrested. There is no video footage that shows violent acts in Tiananmen Square itself. The only pictures and videos that exist show wounded students in the regions near the
Hu Yaobang was a leader of the People's Republic of China and a dedicated reformer who was deposed from his position. His ideas of freedom of speech and freedom of press greatly influenced the students of China. Following his death, approximately 100,000 students gathered at Tiananmen Square on 21 April 1989 to commemorate Hu and protest against China's autocratic communist government. The government declared martial law in Beijing in May, and in June. In addition troops and tanks were sent in to retake the square. On 4 June 1989 between 2,000 and 4,000 students were massacred by the tanks and infantry, although exact figures have never been determined due to suppression by the Chinese government. Many protestors were also arrested and executed in the months following after the protests. The event sparked international condemnation of China, and harsh economic sanctions were imposed on China until the nation released some of those who were arrested. There is no video footage that shows violent acts in Tiananmen Square itself. The only pictures and videos that exist show wounded students in the regions near the