Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and the subsequent military crackdown occurred in 1989.[1]

Student-led demonstrations began in mid-April 1989 in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square (and spread to other cities), initially mourning the death of reformist official Hu Yaobang and calling for democracy, free speech, an end to corruption, and other reforms. They grew to involve hundreds of thousands to over a million people at their peak.[2]

The Chinese government declared martial law in May, and on the night of June 3–4, 1989, troops and tanks cleared the square and surrounding areas, firing on protesters and bystanders in what is widely known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre or June Fourth Incident. Estimates of deaths range from hundreds (official Chinese figures around 200–300) to thousands, with many more injured or arrested.[3]

This is one of the most extensively documented events of the late 20th century, confirmed by contemporary news reports, eyewitness accounts, diplomatic cables, photos/videos (including “Tank Man”), and historical records from sources such as Britannica, History.com, BBC, Reuters, CNN, Amnesty International, and others. The Chinese government acknowledges a “political turmoil” or “counter-revolutionary riot” that was suppressed but downplays or censors details of the violence and casualty figures.