On the evening of February 23, 1961, a celebration was held at the cultural house in Kohtla-Järve to commemorate the anniversary of the Soviet Army. The event was marked by festive activities, highlighting the significance of this date in the context of Estonian history. After the festivities concluded, a young man who performed with an orchestra during the event drove back to his dormitory, where he had prepared a blue-black-white flag in advance.

This blue-black-white flag is a prominent symbol of Estonia's national identity and independence. The young man, inspired by the events of the evening, decided to publicly display this flag. He parked his scooter near the cultural center and climbed over a fence to reach a television mast, which he chose as the spot to raise the flag, demonstrating a form of silent protest against the Soviet regime.

The act of hoisting the blue-black-white flag was significant not only as a personal expression of nationalism but also as a subtle sign of growing dissent among Estonians during the Soviet occupation. It illustrated the desire for independence and the reclamation of national identity, signaling the complexities and tensions of living under foreign rule while yearning for one's own heritage and freedom.