Dolores “Lolita” Lebrón Sotomayor (November 19, 1919 – August 1, 2010) was a Puerto Rican nationalist, activist and quite frankly a badass lady who was convicted of attempted murder and other crimes after carrying out an armed attack on the United States Capitol in 1954, which resulted in the wounding of five members of the United States Congress. In this story will explore Dolores Lebrón’s life and activism and how it has influenced generations of Puerto Ricans and Latinos and continue to inspire political movements around the world even at costing her 25 years of her life imprisoned in a jail cell.
The attack on the United States Capital was aimed at drawing attention to the issue of Puerto Rican independence and the continued colonial status of Puerto Rico.
Lolita played a pivotal role in the Puerto Rican independence movement. Her legacy and impact on the people of Puerto Rico and the greater Latino communities in the Americas cannot be understated.
Childhood and upbringing:
Dolores Lebrón was born on August 19, 1919, in Lares, Puerto Rico. Lares is a small town located in the central part of the island, and it is known for being the site of the 1868 Grito de Lares, a rebellion against Spanish colonial rule. Dolores was the youngest of nine siblings, and she grew up in a family that was involved in political activism. Her father, Manuel Lebrón, was a labor leader, and her mother, Eudocia Sotomayor, was a homemaker.
Dolores attended high school in Lares and later studied at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras. While in college, she became involved in the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, which was founded in 1922 by Pedro Albizu Campos. The party’s goal was to achieve independence for Puerto Rico and to end the island’s colonial status under the United States.
Activism and Imprisonment:
After separating from her first husband, Dolores moved to New York in 1940 and, along with thousands of other Puerto Rican immigrants. She worked as a seamstress in the garment district. Dolores was an admirer of the independence activist Pedro Albizu, who advocated armed struggle, she joined Albizu’s nationalist party in 1946, motivated in part as a result of the anti-Latino racism she encountered in New York.
The two corresponded, and Lebrón began to take on ever more important tasks in the party’s US branch. In 1954 Albizu directed Dolores to organize an attack on “strategic targets”, she choose the US Congress in D.C. and decided to lead the group herself.
Amazingly the four Puerto Rican radicals had no difficulty in entering the visitors’ gallery of the House of Representatives, with their pistols. At a signal from Dolores, who unrolled the Puerto Rican nationalist flag and shouted “Freedom for Puerto Rico now!”, then they opened fire, Dolores always claimed she aimed at the ceiling.
Five legislators were wounded, three of them seriously, and although one of the shooters initially got away, all were tried and given long jail sentences. Dolores Lebrón was sentenced for up to 50 years. Pardoned by then president Jimmy Carter with the other two survivors, in 1979, she resumed her pro-independence activities and was acclaimed as a hero by many Puerto Ricans.
While Dolores “Lolita” Lebrón Sotomayor, no longer advocated violence, she was unrepentant about the attack on Congress. “The armed struggle is the people’s last recourse”, she said while being interviewed in 1998. She also said; “the House of Representatives was an appropriate target because “that’s where all the laws that oppress us are made”.
The fact that the pro-independence faction never obtained never got even close to the votes needed in referendums on the island’s status did not deter her. While she recognized that, economically, the Puerto Rican people may be better off under US rule, she belived freedom from foreign interference as more important than material wellbeing.
At the age of 81, Dolores Lebrón was again jailed for her political activities. On that occasion, she served 60 days for trespassing in a restricted military area, as part of the (ultimately successful) mass protests against the US Navy’s occupation of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, which it used as a firing-range.
A Symbol of Resistance and Liberation:
Dolores Lebrón is widely regarded as a symbol of resistance and liberation for Puerto Ricans and Latinos across the Americas. Her life and activism embody the struggle for self-determination and freedom from colonialism and oppression. She was committed to the cause of Puerto Rican independence and dedicated her life to the pursuit of that goal.
Lebrón’s willingness to sacrifice her freedom and even her life for the cause of Puerto Rican independence made her a hero and a martyr for many. Her courage and conviction inspired others to join the struggle for freedom and to fight against injustice and oppression. Her legacy continues to be a source of inspiration for political activists and movements around the world.
Impact on Puerto Rican Nationalism:
Dolores Lebrón’s had a profound influence on Puerto Rican nationalism. She was a dedicated member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and played a critical role in the struggle for independence. Her activism and sacrifice helped to mobilize the Puerto Rican people and raise awareness of the colonial status of Puerto Rico.
Lebrón’s attack on the United States Capitol in 1954 was a dramatic act of political theater that brought attention to the issue of Puerto Rican independence. The attack, which was non-lethal, was intended to draw attention to the colonial status of Puerto Rico and to demand that the United States grant independence to the island. The attack was widely covered by the media, and it raised awareness of the Puerto Rican independence movement around the world.
Lebrón’s imprisonment and eventual release from prison helped to galvanize the Puerto Rican independence movement. Her sacrifice and dedication to the cause inspired others to join the struggle and to fight for the freedom and independence of Puerto Rico. Her legacy continues to be an important part of Puerto Rican nationalism and a source of inspiration for political activists and movements.
Impact on Latino Activism:
Dolores Lebrón’s impact on Latino activism extends beyond Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican independence movement. Her activism and sacrifice helped to raise awareness of the struggles of Latinos in the United States and throughout the Americas. Her dedication to the cause of self-determination and freedom inspired others to fight against discrimination and oppression.
Lebrón’s attack on the United States Capitol was not only an act of protest against the colonial status of Puerto Rico but also a statement on the struggles of Latinos in the United States. The attack was intended to draw attention to the issues of discrimination and inequality faced by Latinos in the United States and to demand that their rights be recognized and respected.
Lebrón’s legacy has been an important source of inspiration for Latino activists and movements in the United States and throughout the Americas. Her commitment to social justice and her willingness to sacrifice her freedom and even her life for the cause of liberation continue to inspire and motivate those who fight against discrimination and oppression.
Impact on Women’s Rights:
Dolores Lebrón’s impact on women’s rights is also significant. She was a trailblazer for women in Puerto Rico and throughout the Americas. Her activism and sacrifice helped to challenge gender roles and stereotypes and to pave the way for women to participate in political activism and leadership.
Lebrón was one of the few women in the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party, and she played a critical role in the struggle for independence. Her courage and conviction inspired other women to join the movement and speak out against any oppression and injustice.
Her life would be detailed in books, articles and a documentary. On August 1, 2010, Lebrón died from complications of a cardiorespiratory infection, her two children died before her. She is survived by her third husband, Sergio Irizarry, her sister Aurea, and several grandchildren.
