Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown occurred in 1989 in Beijing, China. The protests began in April 1989, initially sparked by the death of reformist Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang, and grew into weeks of large-scale demonstrations centered in Tiananmen Square, led largely by students and other citizens calling for political reform, greater freedoms, and anti-corruption measures.

The crackdown came on the night of June 3–4, 1989, when the Chinese government sent military troops and tanks to clear the square and surrounding streets, using lethal force against protesters and bystanders. This event is often referred to as the "June Fourth Incident" in China. The exact death toll remains disputed and unconfirmed to this day, with estimates ranging widely from several hundred to possibly thousands, as the Chinese government has never released official figures and has heavily censored discussion of the event domestically.