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Today in History: martial law in Beijing 30 May

The Goddess of Democracy statue was erected early in the morning andplaced in Tiananmen Square facing the portrait of Mao Zedong hangingfrom Tiananmen. Official news program, in long criticisms, bitterly condemned the newlyerected statue as a copy of the American Statue of Liberty in New YorkCity.Many students continued their hunger strikes. Some intellectuals andcitizens also joined the fasting. They also decided to stay in theSquare until June 20. The students posted 4 demands: a lifting of martial law; the evacuationof troops from the square; no retaliation; and freedom of the press.The students claimed that there would be no negotiation with thegovernment until these demands were met.Beijing public security officers arrested eleven members of the "FlyingTiger Squad", a motorcycle club that played an important role in thedemonstrations, carrying messages to and fro within the city andTiananmen Square. They were arrested for disturbing public order. Threeleaders of the Autonomous Workers' Union were also arrested. Severalhundred people attended a rally outside the police station to protestthe arrest.

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