The Tiananmen Square crackdown, also known as the June Fourth Incident, refers to the violent suppression of pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989. The protests, which had been ongoing for weeks, were led by students and intellectuals calling for greater political freedom and an end to corruption in the Chinese government. On the night of June 3, the Chinese government declared martial law and sent troops and tanks into the city to disperse the protesters. Despite attempts by some protesters to negotiate with the government, the military ultimately opened fire on the crowds, killing and injuring hundreds or possibly thousands of people. The Chinese government has never officially acknowledged the number of casualties, and the incident remains a highly sensitive and taboo topic in China. The government has also censored any discussion or commemoration of the event, and those who attempt to speak out or commemorate the victims are often punished or silenced.