Today in History: Independent Student Unions Were Founded

Between 19 and 24 April, independent student unions were founded.  On 19 April, the Beijing University Students' Preparatory Committee (BUSPC), was established.Student pro-democracy activism continued to gain momentum in the week. As new posters urging students to expand their pro-democracy activities blanketed campus walls and began spilling out onto neighbourhood walls and telelphone poles, student activists focused on founding a united organisation. What had been spontaneous outburst of sorrow and frustration were rapidly metamorphosing into organised movement for political reform.On April 23rd, the "Provisional Students' Federation of Capital Universities and Colleges " was established, to counter the government sanctioned National Student Federation. Students began fundraising on the streets to raise money for an independent paper.