Date in year · 1989 · The 1980s

May 20, 1989

On May 20, 1989, the Chinese authorities declare martial law in the face of pro-democracy demonstrations, setting the scene for the Tiananmen Square massacre. The year's #1 song was "Look Away" by Chicago. Jan Blokhuijsen, David Ngog, Christian Vietoris would arrive in the same year.

Events

1

Births

1

Deaths

2

Year

1989

1980s

Around 1989

The year in brief

1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1989th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 989th year of the 2nd millennium, the 89th year of the 20th century, and the 10th and last year of the 1980s decade.

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What happened

On May 20, 1989

  1. 1989 The Chinese authorities declare martial law in the face of pro-democracy demonstrations, setting the scene for the Tiananmen Square massacre.

    Government system where political power lies with the people

    Democracy is a form of government in which political power is vested in the people or the population of a state. Under a minimalist definition of democracy, rulers are elected through competitive elections while more expansive or maximalist definitions link democracy to guarantees of civil liberties and human rights in addition to competitive elections.

Arrivals

Born on May 20, 1989

Siosia Vave 1989– Tonga international rugby league footballer

Farewells

Died on May 20, 1989

John Hicks British economist (1904–1989)
Gilda Radner American actress and comedian (1946–1989)

Elsewhere that year

Other moments from 1989

The class of 1989

Others born in 1989

Jan Blokhuijsen 1989– Dutch speed skater
David Ngog 1989– French footballer
Christian Vietoris 1989– German racing driver
Charlie Culberson 1989– American baseball player
Torrin Lawrence 1989– American sprinter (died 2014)
Bethan Dainton 1989– Welsh rugby union player

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