The quarterly magazine ‘The 1989 Generation’, initiated by participants of the 1989 student movement, was officially published in Los Angeles after nearly six months of preparation.
Many participants of the 1989 student movement have gathered to launch ‘The 1989 Generation’ quarterly magazine, which was officially published in Los Angeles and is available in the local “June Fourth Memorial Museum” bookstore. Most of the magazine’s initiators and editorial committee members were students who participated in the student movement in Beijing and other regions, and are now scattered in the United States and other countries. The magazine is initially positioned as a quarterly publication, covering personal memories, current affairs observations, and historical records, and opens its submissions to the public.
Wang Dan, a leader of the 1989 student movement, interviewed by our station on Wednesday (18th), stated that ‘The 1989 Generation’ was co-founded by multiple individuals who participated in the 1989 student movement. He himself is one of the editorial committee members: “There are two main purposes for launching this magazine. First, to preserve historical memory, providing a place to collect historical materials related to the 1989 student movement and China’s democratic movement, so that the students from that era have a new spiritual home.”
He introduced that the magazine was founded mainly on two purposes. First is to preserve historical memories by organizing and compiling the experiences and materials related to the Chinese democratic movement after 1989, providing a platform for the participants to continue documenting and exchanging ideas. He expressed the hope of establishing a new spiritual space for the “1989 generation,” ensuring that related memories can be preserved for a long time.
Writing history across generations
The second purpose is to promote the re-gathering and discussion of relevant groups. Wang Dan stated that many participants still hold expectations for China’s future and hope to reconnect through this platform, discussing China’s changes and potential paths, “to see what else can be done for China.”
He mentioned that ‘The 1989 Generation’ is open for submissions from both domestic and international contributors, not limited to those who were participants, but also welcoming the younger generation to research and write on the history of 1989 and related topics. He indicated that future issues would progressively incorporate observations and analyses from different generations, with subsequent issues adding more related content.
Wang Dan noted that this publication aims not only to preserve historical memory but also to extend into thoughts about China’s future, “and we hope to gain more support from the outside world.”
Continuing the tradition of student publications from the 1980s
Hu Ping, editor-in-chief of the magazine ‘Beijing Spring’, told reporters that the establishment of ‘The 1989 Generation’ magazine continues the tradition of student groups in using publications for communication and expression. He stated that various student publications emerged in Chinese universities during the 1980s, becoming significant channels for ideological discussion. Therefore, the emergence of this magazine can be seen as a continuation of this tradition in the overseas context.
Hu Ping stated, “It is crucial to publish this magazine. The 1989 movement itself is a significant topic, and it is necessary to name the magazine after the 1989 generation. It is a very significant event in contemporary Chinese history, and its background, process, and outcomes are worthy of description and research today.”
A person close to the editorial team revealed that the magazine’s preparations began in the second half of 2025, with participants completing topic selection and editorial work through online collaboration, gradually establishing a submission and review mechanism. “Everyone is scattered in different countries, and we can only cooperate remotely, but progress has never been interrupted.”
The memories of ordinary participants are fading
Zeng Jianyuan, chairman of the Taiwan Huaren Democratic Academy Association, stated that the 1989 student movement was a widely participated social movement, but many ordinary participants’ experiences have gradually disappeared from public memory. He remarked, “Those who joined back then are still around, mostly in their sixties and seventies now; many are retired and have the time to reflect on their past experiences.”
Zeng Jianyuan believes that more participants should be encouraged to document their experiences to supplement the deficiencies in historical narratives. He said, “In the past, many narratives about 1989 focused on some representative figures, but in reality, the experiences of ordinary people’s participation constitute the entirety of history. If these memories are not recorded, they will slowly fade away.”
Public information reveals that ‘The 1989 Generation’ is currently mainly distributed through offline channels, with the Los Angeles “June Fourth Memorial Museum” being the first display and sales point.
In 1989, China witnessed a nationwide movement that drew international attention, as countless students and citizens took to the streets, with the core demands directed at political reform and curbing corruption. In the early hours of June 4 the same year, the Communist Party mobilized military troops and tanks into Tiananmen Square to implement violent repression and clear the area, causing serious bloodshed and casualties. After that, the truth of the incident faced comprehensive censorship and lockdown within China; participants were forced into silence, imprisonment, or exile abroad. Despite facing prolonged political pressure, the memory that has been erased continues to be transmitted amidst suppression and censorship.