Puerto Rican Nationalists Attacked the U.S. Capitol Building in 1954

Today in Latin American history, Puerto Rican nationalists attacked the United States Capitol building, injuring five Representatives in 1954.

Four Puerto Rican nationalists; they shot 30 rounds from semi-automatic pistols from the Ladies’ Gallery (a balcony for visitors) of the House of Representatives chamber in the United States Capitol.

Five Representatives were wounded, one seriously, but all recovered. The Nationalists were arrested, tried and convicted in federal court, and given long sentences, effectively life imprisonment.

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, the city of Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1565

Today in LatAm history, Chilean aristocrat Javiera Carrera she sewed the first national flag of Chile and is considered to be the “Mother of Chile” was born in 1781

Today in LatAm history, Paraguayan President Marshal F.S. López died during the Battle of Cerro Corá thus marking the end of the Paraguayan War in 1870

Today in LatAm history, former President of Brazil João Goulart who was in office 1961-64 was born in 1918

Today in LatAm history, Cuban composer and guitarist Leo Brouwer was born in 1939

Today in LatAm history, the Villarrica Volcano begins a strombolian eruption causing lahars that destroy half of the town of Coñaripe in 1964

Today in LatAm history, Mexican footballer Carlos Vela who plays for the National team & Real Sociedad was born in 1989

Today in LatAm history, Raul Reyes the second-in-command of Colombia’s FARC guerrillas died in 2008