The Tiananmen Square Massacre: In Their Words
June 3 "As word spreads that hundreds of thousands of troops are approaching from all four corners of the city, Beijingers flood the streets to block them, as they had done two weeks earlier. At about 10:30 p.m., near the Muxidi apartment buildings -- home to high-level Party officials and their families -- the citizens become aggressive as the army tries to break through their barricades. They yell at the soldiers and some throw rocks; someone sets a bus on fire. The soldiers start firing on the unarmed civilians with AK-47s loaded with battlefield ammunition."
June 4 "At about 1:00 a.m., the People's Liberation Army finally reaches Tiananmen Square and waits for orders from the government. The soldiers have been told not to open fire, but they have also been told that they must clear the square by 6:00 a.m. with no exceptions or delays. They make a final offer of amnesty if the few thousand remaining students will leave."
"The Memory of Tiananmen (1989)." PBS. Ed. Andrew J. Nathan. PBS, 11 Apr. 2006. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.
It is unclear how many died over the course of the two days. The Red Cross suggested there were 2,600 deaths. The Chinese government quickly changed the number to 241. This included pedestrians and soldiers. 7,000 were reportedly injured.
June 4 "At about 1:00 a.m., the People's Liberation Army finally reaches Tiananmen Square and waits for orders from the government. The soldiers have been told not to open fire, but they have also been told that they must clear the square by 6:00 a.m. with no exceptions or delays. They make a final offer of amnesty if the few thousand remaining students will leave."
"The Memory of Tiananmen (1989)." PBS. Ed. Andrew J. Nathan. PBS, 11 Apr. 2006. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.
It is unclear how many died over the course of the two days. The Red Cross suggested there were 2,600 deaths. The Chinese government quickly changed the number to 241. This included pedestrians and soldiers. 7,000 were reportedly injured.
The Legend of "Tank Man"
The tragedy at Tiananmen Square involved hundreds of nameless citizens, many of whom were average people turned into heroes fighting for the rights of Chinese people. "Tank Man" was a student protester who had the courage to stand in front of several tanks to stall them from proceeding toward the demonstrations. The true identity of Tank Man is unknown, even with the knowledge and resources we have today. He may be one of the countless protesters arrested, he may have perished like many around him, or maybe he was able to continue on with his life like nothing happened. The story on whom Tank Man really is will be another of the world's unsolved mysteries, but will always be a part of the history of that tragic day and an idol of bravery to Chinese citizens.
"To this day, who he was and what became of him remains a mystery." ~ "The Memory of Tiananmen (1989)." PBS. Ed. Andrew J. Nathan. PBS, 11 Apr. 2006. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.
"To this day, who he was and what became of him remains a mystery." ~ "The Memory of Tiananmen (1989)." PBS. Ed. Andrew J. Nathan. PBS, 11 Apr. 2006. Web. 04 Oct. 2013.