Friday was the thirtieth anniversary of the nonviolent Singing Revolution for Baltic independence. Known as the Baltic Way, it saw Latvians, Estonians, and Lithuanians joined hands to form a 400-mile human chain connecting the three capitals.

Around two million people, which is roughly a quarter of the total population of the 3 states along the 650-km chain from Tallinn through Riga to Vilniusin. They did this to fight for democracy and end Soviet occupation, which they were successful in doing. The visually stunning chain of humans inspired and touched the hearts of people all over the world.

The demonstration was carried out on the 50th anniversary of the secret ‘Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact’ between Stalinist Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, which broke up Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and led to the occupation of the Baltic states after World War II. Organized by Baltic pro-independence movements, the demonstration was meant to draw global attention to the region by demonstrating a popular desire for independence in each of the three nations, and symbolizing the solidarity among them.

Special radio broadcasts helped to coordinate the event leading up to it, Estonia declared a public holiday, and free bus rides were even sponsored in rural areas. Those taking part in the demonstration linked hands for 15 minutes, while elsewhere, priests held masses or rang church bells. Though Soviet officials responded to the demonstration with intense rhetoric, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare independence within six months of the event. Within a year of the demonstration, Soviet officials allowed elections in all three Baltic states, which toppled Communist control and won the Baltic states their independence.

Find out more about this in the video below.