In the spring of 1989, thousands of protesters gathered in tiananmen square in beijing, china seeking political reform and freedoms . they rallied around a plaster statue that resembled the statue of liberty which they called “the goddess of democracy.” what happened to end this protest? the protesters were attacked by chinese troops and many were killed or arrested. most students lost interest and returned quietly to class the government decided to give more freedoms to the chinese citizens. national news broadcast the demonstration and other countries boycotted china's products.