Photos: The 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests

On the night between June 3 and 4, 1989, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) violently cleared Beijing's Tiananmen Square of protesters, ending a six-week demonstration that had called for democracy and widespread political reform.

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Alan Taylor Alan Taylor is a senior editor at The Atlantic, where he oversees the Photo section.

From the night of June 3 through the early morning of June 4, 1989, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) violently cleared Beijing's Tiananmen Square of protesters, ending a six-week demonstration that had called for democracy and widespread political reform. The protests began in April of 1989, gaining support as initial government reactions included concessions. Martial law was declared on May 20, troops were mobilized, and late on June 3 the PLA pushed into Tiananmen Square, crushing some protesters and firing on many others. The exact number killed may never be known, but estimates range from several hundred to several thousand.