Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent military crackdown (often called the Tiananmen Square Massacre or June Fourth Incident) occurred in 1989.[1]

Student-led pro-democracy demonstrations began in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in April 1989, following the death of reformist Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. They grew to involve hundreds of thousands (and at peaks over a million people) calling for political reform, free speech, an end to corruption, and other changes. Protests spread to other cities.[1]

The Chinese government declared martial law in May. On the night of June 3–4, 1989, the People’s Liberation Army moved in with troops and tanks, clearing the square and surrounding areas by force. Soldiers fired on crowds; estimates of deaths range from hundreds (official figures around 241, including soldiers) to several thousand civilians, with many more injured and thousands arrested afterward. The iconic “Tank Man” photo was taken on June 5.[2]

This is extensively documented by historians, contemporary news reports, eyewitness accounts, and sources including HISTORY.com, Britannica, CNN, and the BBC. The Chinese government continues to heavily censor discussion of the events inside China.