From the June 5, 2014, Chicago Tribune "'Tank man' identity remains a mystery" by Julie Makinen.
Foreign reporters have tried to identify this man, made famous for standing in front of a line of tanks holding just a shopping bag to prevent them from moving. Along with pictures of the crowds and the "Goddess of Democracy" these photos are ingrained in peoples' minds.
Shortly after noon on June 5, 1989, the day after troops stormed through Beijing to crush the student-led uprising that had paralyzed the Chinese capital for weeks, the lone man stopped that column of tanks on the Avenue of Eternal Peace.
The lead tank halted and then tried moving right and left, but each time the man adjusted his position to remain in the tank's path. Finally, he shifted the bags to one hand, hopped onto the tank and appeared to talk with its commander.
No one knows for sure what the man's identity is or even whether he is still alive.
Time Magazine has named him one of the century's top 20 revolutionaries. But, it is unclear whether the "Tank Man" is even aware of the impact he made as the image remains barred and censors are very careful to suppress it.
That Was One Striking Photo.
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