The 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown has Chinese authorities warning of pro-democracy protests and public displays of mourning

BEIJING – Chinese authorities were on high alert in Beijing on Tuesday, the 35th anniversary of the deadly Tiananmen Square incident, to prevent public mourning for the victims and pro-democracy activities.

In 1989, the Chinese communist government cracked down on students and other pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing. On Tuesday morning, more than thirty police vehicles were deployed to the square and surrounding areas and security officials kept an eye on passers-by and cars.

Plainclothes officers remained vigilant around a cemetery where members of Tiananmen Mothers, a group made up of relatives of victims, visit every year to mourn.

With youth unemployment remaining high on the anniversary of the incident, President Xi Jinping’s government has been wary that discontent would surface and renew criticism of the crackdown.

Authorities are also nervous because the sudden death of former Prime Minister Li Keqiang, who was said to be at odds with Xi, last October caused an outpouring of public grief among many citizens.