Gotta Watch: Tiananmen Square protests
June 4th, 2011
02:21 PM ET

Gotta Watch: Tiananmen Square protests

It was a day in China's history that will never be forgotten.  June 4, 1989, Chinese troops opened fire on students and protesters in Tiananmen Square.  The protests began in April following the death of former Communist Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang. Only a handful of people originally showed up to the square in his memory, but as weeks passed hundreds of thousands of people joined the demonstration, which became a mass movement for political reform.  The protests remained peaceful until troops opened fire June 4th. The government reported 241 people were killed and 7,000 were wounded. In today's Gotta Watch we remember the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

China's perfect storm - In 1989 the world watched mainly students and intellectuals protest in Tiananmen Square. CNN's Kristi Lu Stout details the most influential moments of the protests and the mystery that still surrounds the "tank man."

Dodging bullets for "tank man" - CNN photojournalist Jonathan Schaer opens up about how he feared for his life while capturing video of the "tank man" on June 5, 1989.

On the ground in Tiananmen Square - A CNN reporter stands inTiananmen Square as hundreds of thousands of people join the protest against Communist rule.

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Filed under: China • Gotta Watch • History • World
soundoff (158 Responses)
  1. robert terwilliger

    This is AWESOME! If it wasn't for crap like this I would have to go to bed. I know now that the world is safe with certain people reiterating and regurgitating info directly from tv and making sure alls' well, and the balance is restored. I heard caseys father is going to pin the disappearance of the Kyron boy on the Casey Anthoney poster once he's done with Casey.

    June 5, 2011 at 3:14 am | Report abuse |
  2. TANK MAN

    NEVER FORGET TANK MAN!
    NEVER FORGET TIANANMEN SQUARE
    SOMEDAY CHINA WILL BE FREE FROM COMMUNIST RULE
    SOMEDAY CHINA WILL BE FREE

    June 5, 2011 at 3:41 am | Report abuse |
  3. TANK MAN

    NEVER FORGET TANK MAN
    NEVER FORGET TIANANMEN SQUARE
    FREE CHINA FROM THE TYRANNICAL REGIME
    FREE CHINA FROM THE OPPRESSIVE OVERLORDS

    June 5, 2011 at 3:42 am | Report abuse |
  4. just wondering

    Does anybody know what's going on with the Anthony case?

    June 5, 2011 at 7:08 am | Report abuse |
  5. Chinaman

    We are free dummies. Every time you shop at Wal-Mart, you secure my retirement. What secures your retirement? Credit extended graciously to you by the Chinese people. There is no law that requires China to extend loans to the USA, yet we do this. Do you not find it oss that Americans make fun of the Chinese even as they shop @Wal-Mart? (Yes, walmart is just one, but it's the big fat one)

    June 5, 2011 at 8:20 am | Report abuse |
    • Elbow Deep

      Seriously where in America can you buy American made goods? I've looked trust me. Lol It's not just Walmart despite what Michael Moore says. I know you like saying stuff to feel intellectually superior, but the problem is systemic and more of a legislative problem that it is a problem with Samuel Walton.

      June 5, 2011 at 2:47 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Chinaman

    You callw chinaman swayve and then say can bowrow more money. Maybe say "No" next time. No more crwedit for Amewica! Go home now no pay!

    June 5, 2011 at 8:39 am | Report abuse |
  7. Chinaman

    How you pay China back. Yrou cannot even affohrd to buiewld any new home! Yrou unemproyment rwate awrong with yrour gross domestic product to debt ratio...verwy scarwry. Maybe you no pay back what owe to Chinese people. Maybe you make bettewr deawl now. Maybe if troop stay and pwrotect China oil suppry we extend wroan? What say yrou! (even Chinaman chuckle @ O'Really

    June 5, 2011 at 8:48 am | Report abuse |
  8. RUFFNUTT

    @chinaman... im broke can i borrow some money?

    June 5, 2011 at 9:01 am | Report abuse |
  9. Chinaman

    No way RF. How much yrou stillw owe on firwrebird? he he

    June 5, 2011 at 9:05 am | Report abuse |
  10. RUFFNUTT

    well.. 20k so far.. invested.. maybe another 5-10k to go.. interior=2k, convertible top=1k , rebuild rearend=500$, 8-71 supercharger=4.2k$ , fueltank and fuel/brake lines 500$ , msd6btm=400$

    and maybe a nice suround sound set up..with some 15" subs = 1500$..

    June 5, 2011 at 9:14 am | Report abuse |
  11. Chinaman

    Not to mention Great Wall bigger than everything Americans have ever built! Stack everything Americans have built into a pile. Now fly an aircraft into that pile and watch it go Poof! It's already gone people. Only the scraps remain. Everything else is plastic from China, along with some scraps of recycled metals. We've decided to overtake the American car market finalwry! Have yrou seen the prototype 2015 Walton hybwid? If Wawlmaht can distribute food can alwso distribute auto. Ha ha! China Win again! We are 10 where yrou are 1 and worldwide! How ryou overcome 10:1 odd? Miwritarwry? Ha ha. China to big for invade/occupy strategy. Go home now no pay!

    June 5, 2011 at 9:28 am | Report abuse |
  12. RUFFNUTT

    china's military is alone the size of the entire usa population..

    June 5, 2011 at 9:33 am | Report abuse |
  13. GM 8-71 blower

    Your current piston configuration will not work with me. You can't just bolt an 8-71 on and go. Make that 4.2K 6.7

    June 5, 2011 at 9:37 am | Report abuse |
  14. No it isn't

    (China's military)

    June 5, 2011 at 9:46 am | Report abuse |
  15. Jeff Frank ( R-Ohio )

    Epiphany's Cut n Paste Posts
    You asked for it and now "you will" get it...second treatment.
    You see pal I think CNN and the WordPress, IS one step ahead of you and me, and one step ahead of the law or so they think.
    Again I'm not a psychoanalyst, but like I said, my best guess your a paranoid schizophenic and a sociopath which still stand.
    Now the way "you will be revealed".
    scenario1:
    screen name: joe
    email: jg@gmail.com (bogus)
    IP: 309.151.41.200 (legit)

    scenario2:
    screen name: china boy
    email: wong@tinnamen. (bogus)
    IP: 309.151.41.200 (legit)

    scenario3
    screen name: Epiphany's Cut n Paste Files
    email: jimD1261@yahoo.com (bogus)
    IP: 309.151.41.200 (legit)

    example bust:
    Game Over Mr. Epiphany Cut n Paste Files
    trace on: 309.151.41.200
    tracer route reveals 21 jump addresses to a Verizon server in New Jersey to a number. 555.555.9621
    Mr.Joe Nelson 5631 Example Ave apt33 Anywhere, N.J.
    Do you think I'm joking?
    I'm serious as a heart attack!
    This is why CNN has a comment policy!!!
    So legit, intelligent people, with "real" email addresses can have a real community.
    YOU WILL GO DOWN, YOU WANT TO GET CAUGHT.

    June 5, 2011 at 9:48 am | Report abuse |
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