The first reports indicate 1,500 dead and 10,000 wounded. A Chinese Red Cross report later indicates 2,600 people were killed. In cities across China, crowds march to protest the massacre in Beijing. Troops do not intervene. Beijing is a battle zone.
Foreigners scramble to leave the country.
To justify the crackdown, the government airs carefully made films portraying violent and aggressive crowds attacking unarmed soldiers. Prime Minister Li Peng appears on television and announces eight telephone numbers for people to call-in and anonymously denounce persons who took part in the unrest. By June 11 th , the first wave of massive arrests takes place. The current generation of leaders is paying more heed to its critics and its people. The government has strategically released a handful of high-profile political prisoners, and censorship has eased at least temporarily, allowing publication of reams of new books debating the fate of the country.