Thich Quang Duc, a Buddhist monk, set himself on fire in a busy street in Saigon, Vietnam on June 11, 1963. Many Vietnamese Buddhists watched on as Quang Duc was doused in gasoline by fellow monks before striking a match as lighting himself on fire. Also in the crowd that day was American photographer Malcolm Browne, who captured this now famous photo of Thich Quang Duc on fire.
Thich Quang Duc immolated himself to protest Ngo Dinh Diem’s rule of South Vietnam and his promotion of the Catholic minority in South Vietnam at the expense of Buddhists. The event was highly reported on in the United States. In addition, Quang Duc’s immolation spawned other monks to immolate in protest of Diem’s policies, and continues to influence the way Buddhists protest today.