Tank Man stood alone against a column of tanks in Beijing in 1989
In 1989 Beijing, an unknown man stepped into the path of Type 59 tanks on an avenue, moving to block them until bystanders pulled him away.
In 1989, a lone figure stood in the middle of a Beijing avenue facing down a column of military vehicles. This man, who would become known as Tank Man, positioned himself directly in the path of Type 59 tanks moving down the street.
The standoff
When Tank Man stepped into the lead tank's path, the tank attempted to maneuver around him. Tank Man responded by moving as well, continuing to block the vehicle's progress.
The unknown protester
Eventually bystanders intervened and led Tank Man away from the street. Despite the iconic photographs that captured this moment, no one knows who Tank Man was. What happened to him afterward also remains unknown.
