In 2024, I returned to Beijing as a graduate student. At that time, there were few graduate students majoring in literary criticism. After the start of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, our mentor clearly told us, “You are writing history (as much as possible, because of your profession), not making history.” However, we couldn’t resist the urge, and we went to Tiananmen Square every day.
We gathered, expressed support, and voiced opinions in line with the demands of the society at that time, such as “anti-corruption, anti-impunity.”
During that time, there were renowned writers in the literary world, such as Liu Xinwu, former editor-in-chief of “People’s Literature,” who also carried the banner to Tiananmen Square with colleagues from the literary field. After the events of June 4th, he too faced repercussions and lost his position as editor.
A famous poet wrote a song that went, “We walk courageously in the fiery month of May, we bravely take to the streets…” We sang this song as we headed to Tiananmen Square to support the protesting students.
We, students from different schools, gathered in unity. Our teachers were adamant about not allowing us to join the “Autonomous Federation.” They encouraged us to support and speak out but prohibited sitting in protest and joining the university student union.
Starting from mid-May, students from other provinces began flocking to Beijing, participating in marches and demonstrations in support of Beijing students and the sit-in protest at Tiananmen Square. Students from other provinces also joined the hunger strike and sit-in protest at that time.
On the afternoon of June 3rd, as I and several classmates were returning to school from the Front Gate subway station, a young female ticket seller whispered to us, “Don’t take them, don’t take them.” She motioned us over and quietly said, “We have received a directive from higher-ups, if you can go back, do so as soon as possible.”
Confused, I asked, “What’s happening?” She replied, “There will be martial law tonight!”
Not fully understanding the concept of martial law, we thought it meant being surrounded. Some of our classmates had been interning and interacting closely with the military at that time. As political meetings unfolded on the night of May 23rd, with convoys of special vehicles arriving, there was a heightened state of alert at the military academy, and we were perplexed by the situation.
That evening, as we were heading back, we encountered military vehicles, armored cars, and tanks rumbling from the west towards Tiananmen Square through West Chang’an Street. We followed along, passing landmarks like Princess Tomb, Military Museum, Muxidi, Fuxin Bridge, and Xidan. As we neared Xinhuamen, close to Xidan Telegraph Building, we heard the continuous sound of machine guns.
It was my first experience hearing gunshots up close. When instructed to lie down in a nearby alley by an elder, we complied. Amidst the chaos, someone noticed a reddish stain on my abdomen and exclaimed, “Are you shot? There is blood on your stomach!” Shaken, I lifted my shirt to reveal no injury but realized I had absorbed someone else’s blood during the chaos.
Unable to reach Tiananmen Square, we approached Xinhuamen but were blocked by gunfire. Forced to retreat, we made our way back as dawn broke. Eventually, we reached Fuxing Hospital past 9 am. Walking into the lobby, we were surrounded by the sight of numerous casualties, sparking disbelief at the denial of deaths by the authorities.
Initially fearful of the corpses, we soon grew numb to the horrific scene as we encountered bodies of various ages and conditions, some gruesomely disfigured.
Witnessing soldiers firing on bystanders from military vehicles, tanks, and armored cars wreaking havoc on Chang’an Street, we followed closely, bearing witness to a terrifying chapter in history.
When the Communist Party’s interests are threatened, they will not hesitate to use violence. With Mao Zedong’s belief that “political power grows out of the barrel of a gun,” the party wielded force mercilessly, trampling on unarmed civilians.
The tragic events of June 4th are not merely a commemoration but an ongoing struggle. Until the Communist Party is completely eradicated and disappears from the face of China and the world, the mission of June 4th remains unfulfilled. It is not just a day of remembrance but a relentless movement pushing for genuine democratization in China.