In 1989, China experienced large-scale protests in Beijings Tiananmen Square, which were crushed by Chinas Communist rulers. The protests began in April 1989 when Chinese students gathered in Beijings Tiananmen Square to mourn the death of the liberal Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang. The protests grew with demands for greater political freedom, spurred on by the death of Hu Yaobang, who had overseen some of the economic and political changes. Tens of thousands gathered on the day of Hus funeral, calling for greater freedom of speech and less censorship. The protests continued to grow, with crowds in the square exceeding one million in number. The Chinese government declared martial law in Beijing on May 20, and on June 3-4, the government sent tens of thousands of armed troops and hundreds of armored military vehicles into the city center to enforce martial law and forcibly clear the streets of demonstrators. The Chinese government has never acknowledged the true events surrounding the Tiananmen massacre, and it remains a contentious topic in China, with authorities banning all mention of the protest even today. No one knows for sure how many people were killed, but estimates have ranged from hundreds to many thousands.