Silence and heavy state security in China on anniversary of Tiananmen crackdown
Security in Beijing is tight around Tiananmen Square on Tuesday as China marks 35 years since the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests that killed hundreds, if not thousands
BEIJING, China (AP) — Checkpoints and rows of police vehicles lined a major road leading to Beijing's Tiananmen Square as China heightened security on the 35th anniversary of a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests.
China has long quashed any memory of the killings, when the Chinese government ordered in the army to end the months-long protests and uphold Communist rule. An estimated 180,000 troops and armed police rolled in with tanks and armored vehicles, and fired into crowds as they pushed toward Tiananmen Square.
The death toll remains unknown to this day. Hundreds, if not thousands are believed to have been killed in an operation that started the night of June 3 through the following morning.
Across China, the event remains a sensitive and taboo subject that is heavily censored, and any mention or reference on social media are erased.
