20 Years Ago: Tiananmen Square – A Testament To Youth Activism

There are a number of images that permeate our collective psyche. Some are tragic, others hopeful. Every now and then, there is an image that embodies a state of mind so well that it can’t be described or explained. You just have to see it.

On June 4th, 1989, a young, unidentified man stood directly in front of a line of tanks in Beijing, China to express a sense of dissatisfaction, attempting to stop the Chinese government’s attacks on young activists.

Despite the defiance of Tank Man, the struggle continues.

Those who attempt to commemorate the massacre of Tiananmen Square are treated harshly, and news media who want to document their candlelight vigils are turned away. Police have been guarding the square, with the intent of suppressing any protests. As of this writing, no protests have occurred.

Yet, the legacy of what happened on June 4th, 1989 lingers on. Katie Diamond of the League of Young Voters Education Fund in Portland, ME had this to say:

While the work we do at home is really important, it’s even more important to see how Youth Activism is a world-wide movement–this allows us to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself, and also allows us to see ourselves in a greater international context.

In times like this, we have to always remember wise words like this:
“Life is beautiful. Life is a struggle. Life is a beautiful struggle.” -Mos Def

Posted by:

Steve Romain