Tiananmen Square

A month and a half into the uprising centered in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, the leaders of the movement feared that enthusiasm for the cause was beginning to wane. They wanted a symbol that would energize the protestors, and that would represent their cause. On May 27, art students stepped up to the challenge and began construction of a 33-foot-tall statute plaster statue they called “The Goddess of Democracy.” The sculpture was unveiled to a cheering crowd on May 30.

“Today, here in the People’s Square,” the statue’s creators declared, “the people’s Goddess stands tall and announces to the whole world: A consciousness of democracy has awakened among the Chinese people! The new era has begun! The statue of the Goddess of Democracy is made of plaster, and of course cannot stand here forever. On the day when real democracy and freedom come to China, we must erect another Goddess of Democracy here in the Square, monumental, towering, and permanent. We have strong faith that that day will come at last. We have still another hope: Chinese people, arise! Erect the statue of the Goddess of Democracy in your millions of hearts! Long live the people! Long live freedom! Long live democracy!”

With the unveiling of the statue the crowd in the Square, which had dwindled to about 10,000, suddenly surged to over 300,000. And the government had had enough.

On June 4, 1989, a column of Chinese tanks and armored personnel carriers moved into Tiananmen Square, dispersing the protestors. Hundreds, possibly thousands, were killed. Like the pro-democracy movement itself, the Goddess of Democracy was toppled and crushed, for now at least. She may someday rise there again, “monumental, towering, and permanent.”

The Tiananmen Square protests began on April 15, 1989.