Venezuela’s Tiananmen moment: The woman and the armored truck

It was another day of violent protests in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas, where a convoy of armored trucks, or “rinocerontes,” inched forward on a major highway as smoke drifted overhead.

Opposition leaders had planned “the mother of all marches” to mark a holiday commemorating the country’s independence from Spain. At least three people were shot and killed, and the streets were littered with debris and blood.

Then a woman stepped out of the smoke and in front of one of the hulking National Guard trucks, stopping them in their tracks.

And amidst the chaos came a lasting moment.

The unknown woman, known locally only as “La Dama,” wore a hat adorned with Venezuela’s national colors and the country’s flag draped around her neck.

In a video posted to Twitter, she ran up to the truck until she got in front of it and it stopped. Unfazed by a nearby explosion, she placed her hands on the vehicle’s front fender.

Another video by La Patilla’s Eduardo Ríos captured the scene a few moments later.

As the woman stood before the truck, a voice on a loudspeaker barked out. A man popped out of a turret atop the truck and tossed an object towards the woman, who stepped calmly out of its way. It skittered down the street.

Then the rinoceronte began backing up. Instead of walking away, the woman followed it.

AFP photographer Juan Barreto also captured the standoff in a stunning photo.

A costumed demonstrator in Caracas, Venezuela, protests the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday, August 6. Unrest continued to sweep through the country after a new legislative assembly was inaugurated following a controversial election on July 30. The new assembly has wide-ranging powers and is expected to rewrite the Venezuelan constitution at Maduro's behest. Opposition supporters, who see the vote as a power grab and an erosion of democracy, boycotted and staged demonstrations against the vote.

Soldiers stop a vehicle and detain its passengers on the Paramacay military base in Valencia, Venezuela, on August 6. According to authorities, two people were killed when an anti-government paramilitary attack was quelled at the base.

Anti-government activists stand near a flaming barricade in Valencia on August 6.

A man is arrested in Valencia during clashes between anti-government activists and the National Guard on August 6.

Members of the Venezuelan armed forces fly over Valencia in a helicopter while citizens demonstrate in support of a group that staged a paramilitary uprising at the Paramacay military base on August 6.

Venezuela's Chief Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz, third from left, is surrounded by employees of the General Prosecutor's office as she is barred by security forces from entering her office in Caracas on Saturday, August 5.

Diosdado Cabello, a member of Venezuela's National Constituent Assembly, holds an image of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez as delegates gather for a group photo following their swearing-in ceremony on Friday, August 4.

Opposition activists protest against the newly inaugurated National Constituent Assembly on August 4.

A woman in Caracas attends a vigil Monday, July 31, for anti-government activists who have died in the country's recent unrest. More than 120 people have been killed in Venezuela since early April, according to the attorney general's office.

Opposition lawmaker Juan Requesens addresses a rally in Caracas on July 31. Two other leading opposition figures, Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma, were rounded up from their homes, according to their families.

Maduro celebrates the results of a national vote on Sunday, July 30. His opponents boycotted the election and demonstrated against it for weeks, saying he orchestrated it to get around the existing National Assembly, which the opposition has controlled since 2015. Maduro has argued that the Constituent Assembly will help bring peace to a polarized country, with all branches of the government falling under the political movement founded by his late mentor and predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

Members of Venezuela's national police are caught in an explosion as they ride motorcycles near Altamira Square in Caracas on July 30. Venezuela has seen widespread unrest since March 29, when the Supreme Court dissolved Parliament and transferred all legislative powers to itself. The decision was later reversed, but protests have continued across the country, which is also in the midst of an economic crisis.

A wounded anti-government demonstrator is helped by medics during clashes with police in Caracas on July 30.

A demonstrator shouts slogans through a traffic cone during an anti-government protest in Caracas on July 30.

A protester wounded by a pellet gun receives attention July 30 during a demonstration against the vote for a Constituent Assembly.

A member of the National Guard fires at protesters during clashes in Caracas on Friday, July 28.

A demonstrator dressed as Venezuelan independence hero Simon Bolivar is silhouetted against a national flag in Caracas on Monday, July 24.

Venezuelan police Officer Oscar Perez joins in an anti-government protest in Caracas on Thursday, July 13. Perez allegedly piloted a stolen police helicopter used to attack the Venezuelan Supreme Court with grenades on June 27.

Venezuelan lawmakers Luis Stefanelli, left, and Jose Regnault appear stunned in a corridor of the National Assembly after a clash with demonstrators in Caracas on Wednesday, July 5. Supporters of Maduro stormed the building and attacked opposition lawmakers, witnesses said. At least seven legislative employees and five lawmakers were injured, according to National Assembly President Julio Borges. Journalists said they were also assaulted.

National Guard members clash with deputies of the National Assembly in the Parliament's courtyard in Caracas on Tuesday, June 27.

A boy runs under a national flag during a June 27 protest in Caracas.

Protesters tear down a fence at the La Carlota airbase outside Caracas on Friday, June 23. A soldier shot a demonstrator through the fence at the base on the previous day, killing him.

Protester David Jose Vallenilla is shot through a fence by a member of the National Guard near a military base in Caracas on Thursday, June 22. Vallenilla later died in the hospital after suffering three gunshot wounds to the chest.

Maduro holds up a copy of the Venezuelan constitution during a news conference at the presidential palace in Caracas on June 22. Maduro has called for changes to the constitution amid the unrest.

A protester hides behind a barrier in Caracas on June 22.

An opposition activist displays bullet shells during an anti-government demonstration on Monday, June 19.

People flee during a clash between opposition demonstrators and riot police in Caracas on June 19.

Opposition activists aim projectiles toward riot police during a demonstration on June 19.

Demonstrators stand in front of a police vehicle on June 19.

A street in eastern Caracas is painted with the names of people killed during more than two months of protests.

During a "Grandparents' March" in Caracas, a man is blocked by police from reaching the Government Ombudsman's Office on Friday, May 12.

Opposition activists scuffle with riot police in Caracas on May 12.

Thousands of Venezuelan protesters march on a Caracas highway on Wednesday, May 10.

Opposition activists clash with riot police in Caracas on Monday, May 8.

An armored National Guard vehicle runs over a protester in Caracas on Wednesday, May 3. The protester, 22-year-old Pedro Michell Yaminne, survived, his mother told CNN. Interior and justice minister Nestor Reverol told reporters that the "lamentable" incident was under investigation. He said that moments before Yaminne was run over, demonstrators hurled a Molotov cocktail at the armored vehicle, opened the side door and "brutally assaulted" the driver.

A demonstrator catches fire during protests in Caracas on May 3. It happened as protesters clashed with police and the gas tank of a police motorcycle exploded. Other photos from the scene showed the man being attended for burns to his body.

A demonstrator stands in front of an armored vehicle during protests in Caracas on Wednesday, April 19.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles reacts to tear gas during a protest on April 19.

Riot police clash with demonstrators while tear gas fills the air in Caracas on April 19.

Rescue workers tend to a demonstrator hit by a tear gas canister during anti-government protests on April 19.

A demonstrator reacts during a march in Caracas on Saturday, April 15.

A protester suffering from the effects of tear gas is carried away on Thursday, April 13.

Clouds of tear gas spread across a highway in Caracas during clashes on Monday, April 10.

Demonstrators help a journalist whose leg was injured while covering clashes in Caracas on April 10.

Thousands of demonstrators protest against Maduro in Caracas on Saturday, April 8.

Venezuelan police line up before clashing with opposition activists on Thursday, April 6.

Demonstrators fight with national police officers in Caracas on Tuesday, April 4.

Crisis in Venezuela

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The image is reminiscent of Tiananmen Square’s Tank Man, who stopped a column of four Chinese military tanks on June 5, 1989.

Tank Man, too, was unknown. But almost 30 years later, the iconic footage of his brave act remains immediately recognizable to millions around the world.

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1989: Man vs. tank in Tiananmen square

02:55 - Source: CNN

Caracas has been rocked by anti-government protests in recent months amid rising unemployment and food shortages.

Lilian Tintori, wife of opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez, mentioned “La Dama” and China’s Tank Man in a speech Wednesday evening.

“I feel so proud of Caracas. Look at the photo – the video – of the woman who stood in front of the tank,” she said.

“What did the tank do?” she added. “It reversed. It has to reverse.”

CNN’s Natalie Gallon and Ana Melgar contributed to this report.