The Tiananmen Square protests, or the June 4th Incident, involved a clash between students and citizens of Beijing and China’s communist government. Thousands of protestors gathered in Tiananmen Square during the beginning of June 1989, in defiance of martial law. The Chinese government dispatched tanks and military troops to dispel the protests, and the conflict escalated, with hundreds of students being killed by the military. The exact number of victims varies depending on the source. The PRC government claims between thirty and fifty, while the Red Cross estimates that thousands were killed. It is generally believed that over ten thousand people were injured. Because the Tiananmen Square Massacre remains a forbidden topic in China, there has not been a memorial or monument constructed within the country’s borders. In nearby Hong Kong, a monument titled The Pillar of Shame was designed by Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot, and features metal castings of fifty twisted bodies, intended to symbolize the pain and suffering of those killed in the massacre. The sculpture is the pivot of a memorial service held on the anniversary of the massacre.
While I have never visited the Pillar of Shame or Tiananmen Square, I’ve studied the incident in several of my classes. I feel as if this is a perfect example of me, as an American, taking for granted all of the freedoms that I have. Protests like these occur every day at my university and I find it extremely hard to imagine any sort of violence like this taking place. In fact, most people walk past these protests without a word or a second thought. Yet, here in China there is not even a entirely accurate depiction of the transgression and a memorial of these brave students cannot even exist in their own nation. People are not even able to discuss the dead or the violation without repercussions. This incident makes me thankful for all of the liberties I am afforded in this country.