Beginning in April 1989, a series of student-led demonstrations took place in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. The protesters called for greater democracy and freedom of speech in China. The Chinese government responded by sending troops and tanks into the square, and the military opened fire on the protesters, killing many and injuring thousands more.
The Tiananmen Square massacre marked the end of the protests, and the Chinese government has continued to suppress any mention of the event in order to maintain its power.