In the spring of 1989, pro-democracy protests developed in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, where students and others called for government accountability and freedom of the press, among other popular causes. Overnight on June 3rd and 4th—twenty-five years ago this Wednesday—the government enforced martial law, staging a bloody dispersal of the demonstrations, which killed between five hundred and twenty-five hundred people and initiated a new era of conservatism in the country. Here are photos from the protests and the crackdown.
Daily
Our flagship newsletter highlights the best of The New Yorker, including top stories, fiction, humor, and podcasts.
Portfolio
Columbia’s Campus in Crisis
Scenes of dissent and defiance at Columbia University, where scores of students have been arrested for participating in pro-Palestine protests.
Annals of Medicine
How ECMO Is Redefining Death
A medical technology can keep people alive when they otherwise would have died. Where will it lead?
By Clayton Dalton
Cultural Comment
Why Normal Music Reviews No Longer Make Sense for Taylor Swift
Critics argue that “The Tortured Poets Department” sounds too much like Swift’s previous albums. Fans argue that that’s the whole point.
By Sinéad O’Sullivan
Mini Crossword
The Mini Crossword: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Chief Justice appointed in 2005: seven letters.
By Mollie Cowger