The HN title is incorrect -- perhaps the first direct evidence is Compton's original work, showing that electrons scatter photons. If electrons scatter photons, then photons scatter electrons.

Every time a photon scatters off an electron, there exists a reference frame in which the electron is brought to rest.

I'm certain that one could find an earlier argument than Compton scattering, too. Maxwell surely would have agreed that light could exert force upon charges.

The experiment to which the HN title links, however, is awesome, and is perhaps the first time one has demonstrated stopping 0.5 GeV electrons in a wall of light.