The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 commemorated the struggle for democracy and political reform in China. Initially sparked by the death of Hu Yaobang, a reformist leader, the protests began as a student-led movement advocating for greater freedoms, including freedom of speech and assembly. As thousands of people gathered in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the protests expanded to include broader calls for government transparency and an end to corruption. The Chinese government's violent crackdown on demonstrators in early June resulted in significant casualties and heightened international scrutiny of China's human rights record. The events remain emblematic of the ongoing struggle for political freedoms in the country.