The protests that sparked the Tiananmen Square massacre

The protests that sparked the Tiananmen Square massacre

From Witness History by BBC World Service

June 4, 2026 · 9 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the protests leading up to the Tiananmen Square massacre through the eyes of student organizer Wu'er Kaixi.

One month before the bloodshed in Beijing, a 10km line of protestors snaked through the city. For over a decade China had been opening up to global trade and there was promise that, with greater economic freedoms, democratic rights might be within reach too. In an emotional testimony, student organiser Wu'er Kaixi explains why he thought protest and demonstrations were encouraging leaders towards a more progressive China. On 4 May 1989, with huge numbers in the streets it was a moment when many dared to believe the fight for democracy could be won. But, as Wu'er Kaixi tells Tom Bonnett, it was a brief high point. A month later, tanks and soldiers descended on the streets and sent a bloody message - protest would not be tolerated. Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by and curious about the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more. Recent episodes explore everything from how the Excel spreadsheet was developed…

People in this episode

Host: Tom Bonnett

Guest: Wu'er Kaixi

Topics covered

  • Tiananmen Square
  • protests
  • democracy
  • China
  • historical events
  • student activism

Keywords

  • Tiananmen Square
  • protests
  • democracy
  • Wu'er Kaixi
  • China
  • 1989
  • student activism
  • historical testimony

Mentioned in this episode

Places: China, Beijing

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