Massacre In Tiananmen Square

Today we reviewed three articles relating with social justice issues outside of American borders. My article focused on a brutal event that took place in 1989 in China, Beijing. What started off as a peaceful protest in remembrance of Hu Yaobang turned into chaos. It started with a large group of students using their voice and taking a stand. Gradually the numbers increased and people from all over joined to demand democracy. Chinese military tried to put an end to the peaceful protest, but after having failed opened fire and killed hundred of civilians, including bystanders who were not involved in the protest.

A famous picture of one man taking social responsibility upon himself and standing up for his beliefs is shown blocking a line of army trucks. It was said in class this man was not killed where everyone could see, but was arrested and then later killed. Social justice issues such as freedom of voice came up in our discussion. Civilians were simply voicing their opinion without any damage or threat to the government or military. The fact that China has a military without any ground rules or organization is not just. They should not be able to trample through the crowd, killing off people left and right. Having a criminal justice system or laws would have set clear guidelines for not only civilians, but made clear what behavior is acceptable as members of the military. The military did not stop there. The following morning they searched the university for anyone who may have started the protest and killed them as well. The documents were not released for us to see until recently. We are in many ways connected with China and we should have access to information being held over there in events such as the massacre that took place back in 1989.