Pictorial History

The June 4th Massacre

On June 4 1989, just after midnight, 10,000 members of the People's Liberation Army broke through crowds and entered Tiananmen Square initiating a vicious assault on the gathered students, putting an end to their occupation.

The assault began early Saturday afternoon just after the students prevented unarmed members of the PLA from entering the city. Students had surround two buses full of troops, when the PLA threw tear gas canisters into the crowds in hopes of dispersing them. Several hours later, the assault with tear gas accompanied by nightstick beatings.

Just past midnight, the government issued a warning to students that the PLA was entering the square: "The troops will control Tiananmen Square. Leave now. The army has the right to use all means necessary to clear the square. Anyone not obeying the order must take responsibility." In anticipation, the students began to gather crude weapons such as chains, rocks and wooden staves.

As the troops arrived, they fired AK-47s into the crowds as well as viciously beating the students. By 5 A.M. Tiananmen Square had been emptied leaving thousands dead and the country in shambles.