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 that year:

•April 15, 1989: The protests began following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former pro-reform leader of the Chinese Communist Party. University students gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to mourn him, which quickly transformed into a broader grassroots movement calling for political reforms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and an end to government corruption.

•May 1989: The protests grew significantly, drawing in millions of people across China—including workers, academics, and ordinary citizens. In response to the growing demonstrations and hunger strikes, the Chinese government declared martial law on May 20, 1989.

•June 3–4, 1989: The Chinese military (the People's Liberation Army) was ordered to clear the square. On the night of June 3 and into the early morning of June 4, troops equipped with tanks and assault rifles advanced into Beijing, opening fire on protesters and bystanders.

This crackdown, often referred to as the June Fourth Incident or the Tiananmen Square Massacre, resulted in the deaths of hundreds—potentially thousands—of people and remains heavily censored in mainland China today.

Citations (5)

1amnesty.orgNonprofits and think tanks
amnesty.org
Backs: “Yes, the Tiananmen Square protests and subsequent military crackdown took place in 1989.”
evidence, article, 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.
3state.govGovernment
state.gov
Backs: “April 15, 1989: The protests began following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former pro-reform leader of the Chinese Communist Party.”
evidence, official document, points to yes. Claim: Protests began April 15, 1989, following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former pro-reform Communist Party leader.
4wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
wikipedia.org
Backs: “April 15, 1989: The protests began following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former pro-reform leader of the Chinese Communist Party.”
evidence, reference entry, points to yes. Claim: Protests began April 15, 1989, following the death of Hu Yaobang, a former pro-reform Communist Party leader.
5iu.eduAcademic
iu.edu
Backs: “University students gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to mourn him, which quickly transformed into a broader grassroots movement calling for political reforms, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and an end to government corruption.”
evidence, article, points to yes. Claim: Students gathered in Tiananmen Square to mourn Hu, becoming a broader movement for political reform, press freedom, and ending corruption.