Did the Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown happen in 1989?

Yes

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

Here is a brief timeline of the events:

•April 1989: The protests began as student-led demonstrations in Beijing following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party who was seen as a symbol of anti-corruption and political reform. The protests quickly expanded to include demands for free speech, democratic reform, press freedom, and economic accountability.

•May 1989: The movement drew widespread public support, with millions of students, workers, and citizens participating in demonstrations across China. On May 20, 1989, the Chinese government declared martial law in Beijing.

•June 3–4, 1989: The Chinese military (the People's Liberation Army) was ordered to clear the square. Troops equipped with tanks and assault rifles moved into Beijing, firing live ammunition at demonstrators and unarmed civilians.

The crackdown resulted in the deaths of hundreds—potentially thousands—of people and drew widespread international condemnation.

Citations (3)

1amnesty.orgNonprofits and think tanks
amnesty.org
Backs: “Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.”
evidence, other, points to yes. Claim: The Tiananmen Square protests and subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.
2britannica.comEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
britannica.com
Backs: “Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.”
evidence, reference entry, points to yes. Claim: The Tiananmen Square protests and subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.
3pbs.orgNews and mediaquality 0.87
pbs.org
Backs: “April 1989: The protests began as student-led demonstrations in Beijing following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former leader of the Chinese Communist Party who was seen as a symbol of anti-corruption and political reform.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Protests began in April 1989 as student-led demonstrations in Beijing after the death of Hu Yaobang, seen as a symbol of reform.