lolita lebrón ¡presente!

lolita lebrón
19 noviembre 1919 - 1 agosto 2010

in 1954, 34-year-old lolita lebrón & her comrades walked into the visitors' gallery at the u.s. capitol building, shouted que viva puerto rico libre, and opened fire on the house of representatives, wounding five congressmen. upon her release from prison 25 years later, she returned home to her island and proudly declared herself unrepentant, that it is the right of all people to fight for their freedom. in 2001 she was arrested for "trespassing" at the age of 81, in an action to oppose the bombing of vieques, and was sentenced to two months.

lolita lebrón is adored throughout the americas for her many beautiful acts of rebellion & defense of her homeland. she will be missed!

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here is a bit of audio from freedom archives where she speaks about the decision to take up arms in the fight against u.s. imperialism...



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and here's some archival newsreel from the time of the attack on the congress, including an interview with her & rafael cancel miranda shortly afterwards where they are asked if they are sorry for what they've done ;)






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and finally carlos puebla's lovely dedication written for her during her detention...

guajira por lolita lebrón




¡que viva puerto rico libre! ¡que viva lolita lebrón!