The Man Who Stood Before Tanks: Tiananmen's Iconic Photo

Jeff Widener's photograph of an unidentified man blocking a column of tanks on June 5, 1989, in Tiananmen Square became a global symbol of resistance. Taken from a sixth-floor window of the Beijing Hotel, about 800 meters away, the image shows a lone man holding two shopping bags, standing still to obstruct the military vehicles. His identity and fate remain unknown. Widener, an Associated Press photographer, recounts the story behind the iconic image, for which he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. The photo captures the confrontation between protesters and Chinese government forces during the Tiananmen Square protests.