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Since 1949 to present, China was created and is still in a communist
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Hu Yaobang, a former Communist Party leader, dies. Hu had worked to move China toward a more open political system and had become a symbol of democratic reform.
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Thousands of mourning students march through the capital to Tiananmen Square, calling for a more democratic government. In the weeks that follow, thousands of people join the students in the square to protest against China's Communist rulers.
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More than 100 students begin a hunger strike in Tiananmen Square. The number increases to several thousand over the next few days.
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A rally at Tiananmen Square draws an estimated 1.2 million people. General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhao Ziyang, appears at the rally and pleads for an end to the demonstrations.
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Premier Li Peng imposes martial law.
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China halts live American news telecasts in Beijing, including CNN. Also reporters are prohibited from photographing or videotaping any of the demonstrations or Chinese troops.
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A reported 100,000 people attend a concert in Tiananmen Square by singer Hou Dejian, in support of the demonstrators.
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At about 1 a.m. Chinese troops reach Tiananmen Square. Throughout the day, Chinese troops fire on civilians and students, ending the demonstrations. An official death toll has never been released.
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An unidentified man stands alone in the street, blocking a column of Chinese tanks. He remains there for several minutes before being pulled away by onlookers.
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The National Security Archive publishes "Tiananmen Square, 1989: The Declassified History."
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Over 70 thousand take attendance at a memorial vigil for the massacre.
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Over 10,000 people gather in Hong Kong to commemorate the 20th anniversary. In Bejing, foreign social media and journalists are prohibited from the Square.
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An authority figure declares all imprisoned people to be released from "Tiananmen-related sentences."