On this day May 30, 1989, student demonstrators in Beijing unveiled the Goddess of Democracy statue in Tiananmen Square during the height of the pro democracy protests. The statue stood 33 feet tall and was constructed from foam and papier mâché over a metal frame by students from the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Positioned facing the giant portrait of Mao Zedong, the statue became a powerful symbol of resistance and the desire for political reform. It captured worldwide attention and became one of the defining images of the Tiananmen Square protests, representing courage, hope, and the struggle for freedom in the face of growing tension with the Chinese government.
Fun fact: The statue was destroyed by military forces during the violent crackdown that occurred just days later on June 4, but replicas have since been displayed around the world as a tribute to those who stood for democracy.
Positioned facing the giant portrait of Mao Zedong, the statue became a powerful symbol of resistance and the desire for political reform. It captured worldwide attention and became one of the defining images of the Tiananmen Square protests, representing courage, hope, and the struggle for freedom in the face of growing tension with the Chinese government.
Fun fact: The statue was destroyed by military forces during the violent crackdown that occurred just days later on June 4, but replicas have since been displayed around the world as a tribute to those who stood for democracy.
