Chen Guangcheng, known to many as "the barefoot lawyer," was born in the village of Dongshigu in 1971. Blind since infancy, illiterate until his late teens, he nonetheless taught himself law and became a fiery advocate for tens of thousands of Chinese who had no voice. His escape from brutal house arrest in China made headlines around the world, and he remains uncompromising in his commitment to democracy and human rights. He now lives with his wife and two children near Washington, DC.