United States Capitol shooting incident (1954)
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| U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1954) | |
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Lebron is arrested after participating in the attack. Lebron is arrested after participating in the attack. | |
| Location | Washington, D.C. |
| Date | March 1, 1954 |
| Target | United States Capitol (chamber of the House of Representatives) |
| Attack type | shooting |
| Death(s) | 0 |
| Injured | Alvin M. Bentley, Clifford Davis, Ben F. Jensen, George Hyde Fallon, and Kenneth A. Roberts |
| Belligerent(s) | Lolita Lebrón, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andrés Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodríguez |
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Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Series 125px Flag of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party | |
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Notable Nationalists
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The United States Capitol shooting incident of 1954 was an attack on March 1, 1954 by four Puerto Rican nationalists who shot 30 rounds using automatic pistols from the Ladies' Gallery (a balcony for visitors) of the House of Representatives chamber in the United States Capitol.
The attackers, Lolita Lebrón, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodríguez, unfurled a Puerto Rican flag and began shooting at the 240 Representatives of the 83rd Congress who were on the floor during debate over an immigration bill.
Five representatives were shot in the attack. The wounded lawmakers were Alvin M. Bentley (R-Michigan), who took a bullet to the chest, Clifford Davis (D-Tennessee), who was shot in the leg, Ben F. Jensen (R-Iowa), who was shot in the back, as well as George Hyde Fallon (D-Maryland) and Kenneth A. Roberts (D-Alabama). House pages helped carry Alvin Bentley off the House floor. Future congressmen Bill Emerson and Paul E. Kanjorski were two of the congressional pages who were serving on the floor during the incident.[1]
The attackers were immediately arrested. All the attackers were given minimum sentences of 70 years in prison, after their death sentences were commuted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Assailants freed
Figueroa Cordero was released in 1978. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter freed the remaining assailants. Their release coincided with Fidel Castro's release of several American CIA agents being held in Cuba on espionage charges.
Quote
Before God and the world, my blood claims for the independence of Puerto Rico. My life I give for the freedom of my country. This is a cry for victory in our struggle for independence . . . The United States of America is betraying the sacred principles of mankind in their continuous subjugation of my country . . . I take all for responsible.– Lolita Lebrón[citation needed], from a handwritten note found in her purse after the attack
See also
- Truman assassination attempt
- Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
- Ponce Massacre
- Jayuya Uprising
- Nationalist attack of San Juan
- Utuado Uprising
- Río Piedras massacre
- Grito de Lares
- Puerto Rican Independence Party
References
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General references:
- "A Terrorist in the House" by Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington Post Magazine, February 22, 2004, pg. W12.
- "No one expected attack on Congress in 1954" Holland Sentinel, February 29, 2004
Biographies from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress:
- BENTLEY, Alvin Morell (1918-1969)
- DAVIS, Clifford (1897-1970)
- FALLON, George Hyde (1902-1980)
- JENSEN, Benton Franklin (1892-1970)
- ROBERTS, Kenneth Allison (1912-1989)
- Carlos ‘Carlito’ Rovira (March 2006). "Lolita Lebrón, a bold fighter for Puerto Rican independence". S&L Magazine.
- ↑ Michael Barone and Grant Ujifusa (1993). The Almanac of American Politics 1994. Washington, D.C.: National Journal. p. 749. ISBN 0-89234-057-6.
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- Conflicts in 1954
- 1954 in the United States
- 1954 crimes
- Terrorist incidents in the 1950s
- Terrorist incidents in 1954
- Terrorist incidents in the United States
- History of Washington, D.C.
- United States Capitol
- Political history of Puerto Rico
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