CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: TIANANMEN SQUARE Morris Armstrong 2A.

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: TIANANMEN SQUARE

Morris Armstrong

2A

TIMELINE

Before

oApril 15, 1989: Hu Yaobang, a former communist party leader, dies. Hu had worked to

move China toward a more open political system and had become a symbol of democratic

reform.

During

oApril 18, 1989: Thousands of mourning students march through the capital to

Tiananmen Square, calling for a more democratic government. In the weeks that follow,

thousands of people join the students in the square to protest against China communist

rulers.

oMay 19, 1989: A rally at Tiananmen Square draws an estimated 1.2 million people.

General Secretary of the Chinese communist party, Zhao Zi Yan, appears at the rally and

pleads for an end to the demonstrations.

TIMELINE CONT.

oMay 19, 1989: Premier Li Pend imposes martial law.

oJune 4, 1989: At about 1 a.m. Chinese troops reach Tiananmen Square.

Throughout the day, Chinese troops fire on civilians and students ending the

demonstrations.

After

oJune 5, 1999: Approximately 70,000 people in Hong Kong take part in a memorial

vigil.

oJune 4, 2009: Tens of thousands of people commemorate the 20th anniversary of

Tiananmen Square at a gathering in Hong Kong. In Beijing, journalists are barred

from the square while the government blocks foreign news sites and Twitter.

PERCEIVED INJUSTICE

oInstead of listening to, and working with the

protestors of Tiananmen Square, the Chinese

government blocks social media and sends troops to

attack everyone at the square all in an attempt to

silence the protest.

PROTEST ACTIONS

A march though the capital to Tiananmen Square

A hunger strike in Tiananmen Square

A rally at Tiananmen square

A concert in Tiananmen Square

SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

The march trough the capital to Tiananmen Square accomplished the goal of

letting the protestor’s cause become known to the Chinese government and it also

inspired others to join in the protests.

The hunger strike demonstrated by the protestors in Tiananmen Square

accomplished the goal of showing the government that they were willing to fight,

using non-violence, for a more democratic government in China.

The rally at Tiananmen Square was a success, as it drew the attention and public

appearance of an government official whom pleaded for an end to the protests.

The concert at Tiananmen Square was a success, as it showed the Chinese

government that the protestors were wiling to disobey the law for their voices to be

heard, as Premier Li Peng had recently imposed martial just a month before.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

“ The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”

“If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent

of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.”

~Henry David Thoreau

oThese two quotes from Thoreau can accurately describe how the protestors of

Tiananmen Square felt about their communist government. The protestors were willing

to give up their daily lives to protest day and night for a democratic government, and

although sad, some protestors lost their lives forever while fighting for what was right.

oDespite the imposed martial law, the protestors persevered, never giving up their

pleas, even though they knew of the laws and their soon to come consequences.

EXAMPLE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE?

The protest of Tiananmen Square is a good example of civil

disobedience because the regular, everyday people of China stood,

in non-violence, against the Chinese government and its laws all for

the purpose of making their voices heard so as to make the country

better for everyone.