The Singing Revolution

From 1987 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians challenged Soviet rule with mass rallies and song. In September 1988 around 300,000 people gathered at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds to sing banned national songs and call for independence. During the failed Moscow coup of August 1991, Estonia's parliament declared independence restored, and volunteers held out at the Tallinn TV Tower as Soviet troops arrived.