Tianamen April- June 1989: Tens of thousands of students, democracy advocates, reformers and Chinese citizens who hoped for improvements in their nation gathered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing to mourn the passing of former General Secretary Hu Yaobang, who had sought democratic reforms for China. Tension between the mourners and the police and soldiers grew, culminating finally in an Army assault, with tanks and machine guns, on the gathered citizens in Tiananmen Square on the night of June 3-4.

Fresh April flowers in honor of former General Secretary Hu Yaobang, who was sympathetic to democracy. Mourning for Hu Yaobang was the spark to the June 4th movement. (April 17, 1989)	A large portrait of Hu Yaobang is surrounded by wreaths presented by many schools, and a banner requesting freedom and democracy. (April 18, 1989)
“Democracy Wall” at People’s University. A couplet that mourns Hu Yaobang and satirizes the Chinese Communist Party: “Party officials don’t do much so they won’t be blamed for what they did. Better to live a long life as a faceless bureaucrat than to get worn out doing a good job.” (April 18, 1989)	Students stage a sit-in at the front door to Zhongnanhai. Police form a barrier to prevent students rioting. That night, police forcefully scattered the students and created a bloody scene, thereby arousing an upsurge of more student demonstrations. (April 19, 1989)
First parade of the “Beijing University Students Autonomous Committee,” protesting the atrocities the police committed at Xinhua Gate. (April 20, 1989)	Banner: “Democracy Bathed in Blood”; Beijing Industrial University students raise high the flag of democracy flag and rush to Tiananmen Square on that starry night to prepare for the next day’s activities, such as mourning for Hu Yaobang and petitioning for reform. (April 21, 1989)
Seizing Tiananmen Square, University students of Beijing mourn for Hu Yaobang and propose the “seven petitions”. The photo paints a portrait of university students and the 35th article of the constitution as well as a memorial service scene for Hu Yaobang. (April 22, 1989)	After Hu Yaobang’s memorial service, Guo Haifeng and three others kneel on the East Gate stairs of Great Hall to hand over their petition, which was received by Li Peng. Li Peng recently denied that this happened in his memoirs. (April 22, 1989)
Beijing University’s Macroeconomics graduate students hang a poster titled, “Strongly support the student movement leaders.” (April 23, 1989)	Beijing University was one of the centers of the student movement. Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty or give me death!" was among the displayed by Beijing University students. (April 25, 1989)

Pictures provided by Global Commemoration of “June 4th” Committee