WHAT ALL HAPPENED APRIL TO MAY 1989
Find out what all happened April to May 1989

The April 9 tragedy in Tbilisi, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, an anti-Soviet peaceful demonstration and hunger strikes, demanding restoration of Georgian independence is dispersed by the Soviet army, resulting in 20 deaths and hundreds of injuries. (9. April 1989)

Disney-MGM Studios opens at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, United States. (1. May 1989)

Tiananmen Square Protests of 1989: In Beijing, around 100,000 students gather in Tiananmen Square to commemorate Chinese reform leader Hu Yaobang. (21. April 1989)

A gun turret explodes on the USS Iowa, killing 47 sailors. (19. April 1989)

Soviet submarine Komsomolets sinks in the Barents Sea off the coast of Norway killing 42 sailors. (7. April 1989)

A group of six members of the guerrilla group Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) of Peru, shoot dead eight transsexuals, in the city of Tarapoto. (31. May 1989)

Signing of an agreement between Egypt and the United States, allowing the manufacture of parts of the F-16 jet fighter plane in Egypt. (29. May 1989)

The deadliest tornado in world history strikes Central Bangladesh, killing upwards of 1,300, injuring 12,000, and leaving as many as 80,000 homeless. (26. April 1989)

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev arrives in Havana, Cuba to meet with Fidel Castro in an attempt to mend strained relations. (2. April 1989)

People's Daily publishes the People's Daily editorial of April 26 which inflames the nascent Tiananmen Square protests (26. April 1989)

Cedar Point opens Magnum XL-200, the first roller coaster to break the 200 ft height barrier, therefore spawning what is known as the "coaster wars". (6. May 1989)

Ron Hextall becomes the first goaltender in NHL history to score a goal in the playoffs. (11. April 1989)

Margaret Thatcher's new local government tax, the Community Charge (commonly known as the "poll tax"), is introduced in Scotland. (1. April 1989)

Upon Hu Yaobang's death, the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 begin in the People's Republic of China. (15. April 1989)

Hillsborough disaster: A human crush occurs at Hillsborough Stadium, home of Sheffield Wednesday, in the FA Cup Semi-final, resulting in the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans. (15. April 1989)

The San Bernardino train disaster kills 4 people. A week later an underground gasoline pipeline explodes killing 2 more people. (12. May 1989)

Iran-Contra Affair: Former White House aide Oliver North is convicted of three crimes and acquitted of nine other charges. The convictions, however, are later overturned on appeal. (4. May 1989)

Large groups of students occupy Tiananmen Square and begin a hunger strike. (13. May 1989)

Tiananmen Square protests of 1989: the 33-foot high "Goddess of Democracy" statue is unveiled in Tiananmen Square by student demonstrators. (30. May 1989)

The Chinese authorities declare martial law in the face of pro-democracy demonstrations, setting the scene for the Tiananmen Square massacre. (20. May 1989)