Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent military crackdown occurred in 1989.

The pro-democracy protests, primarily led by students and joined by workers and others, began in April 1989 in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square (and spread to other cities). They were sparked by the death of reformist leader Hu Yaobang and involved calls for political reform, anti-corruption measures, and greater freedoms. The Chinese government declared martial law and, on the night of June 3–4, 1989, ordered the People’s Liberation Army to clear the square by force. This resulted in a significant number of deaths (estimates vary widely, from hundreds to thousands) and injuries among protesters and civilians, along with mass arrests afterward. The events are commonly referred to as the Tiananmen Square Massacre or June Fourth Incident.

This is extensively documented in historical records, contemporary news reporting, declassified documents, eyewitness accounts, and scholarly works from multiple countries.