The bloody crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square is an infamous moment in China’s history. Protestors, who were mostly students, had occupied the square for seven weeks demanding democratic reform. Millions of people from all walks of life joined in the demonstrations, which rippled out to cities across China.

Shortly after declaring martial law, the Government, on the night of 3 June 1989 and the following morning, sent in army tanks and the infantry to crush the protest. Estimates of civilian deaths vary from the 23 recorded by the Chinese Communist Party to 2,600 reported by the Chinese Red Cross. Between 7,000 and 10,000 people were injured.

The Chinese government stifles public debate about Tiananmen, and the issue is banned from school textbooks, magazines, newspapers and the Internet.

There are still people in jail in China today in connection with the Tiananmen Square protests – almost 20 years after they happened.

The Tiananmen Mothers, a group made up mostly of women whose children or close relatives were killed or injured, are among those lobbying for justice.

The group was set up by retired university professor Ding Zilin, whose 17-year-old son was killed in the protests. They have the names of more than 180 people who were killed and at least 70 who were injured in crackdown.

Group members regularly petition the government and have at times been placed under police surveillance, including house arrest.

We are calling for authorities to release those in jail, offer compensation and to carry out an independent investigation aimed at bringing those responsible for the crackdown to justice.