 On May 20, martial law was effected with an order banning protests and strikes signed by Chen Xitong.This again exacerbated the crisis as more people showed up to support the students in reaction to the announcement and prevented soldiers from carrying out the order to clear the square.On June 1, Xinhua News Agency quoted Chen Xitong at a Children's Day celebration attended by 20,000 children, telling the children not to worry about the protest, elaborating that they would gain access to Tiananmen Square very soon.