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U.S. Capitol shooting incident (1954)
Encyclopedia
The United States Capitol shooting incident of 1954 was an attack on March 1, 1954 by four Puerto Rican nationalists
who 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
.
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.
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
.
freed the remaining assailants in exchange for Fidel Castro's
release of several American CIA agents being held in Cuba
on espionage
charges.
Biographies from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
:
Puerto Rican independence movement
The Puerto Rican independence movement refers to initiatives throughout the history of Puerto Rico aimed at obtaining independence for the Island, first from Spain, and then from the United States...
who 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
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
.
The attackers, Lolita Lebrón
Lolita Lebrón
Dolores "Lolita" Lebrón Sotomayor was a Puerto Rican nationalist who wasconvicted of attempted murder and other crimes after leading an assault on the United States House of Representatives in 1954,...
, Rafael Cancel Miranda
Rafael Cancel Miranda
Rafael Cancel Miranda , political activist, is a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and an advocate of Puerto Rican independence. On March 1, 1954, Cancel Miranda together with fellow Nationalists Lolita Lebron, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodriguez entered the United...
, Andres Figueroa Cordero, and Irving Flores Rodríguez, unfurled a Puerto Rican flag
Flag of Puerto Rico
The flags of Puerto Rico represent and symbolize the island and people of Puerto Rico. The most commonly used flags of Puerto Rico are the current flag, which represents the people of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico; municipal flags, which represent the different regions of the island; political...
and began shooting at the 240 Representatives of the 83rd Congress
83rd United States Congress
The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years...
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
United States Congressional Delegations from Michigan
This is a complete listing of all historical congressional delegations from Michigan to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:-Delegates from Michigan Territory:-Members from Michigan:-Notes:...
), who took a bullet to the chest, Clifford Davis
Clifford Davis
Clifford Davis was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1940 to 1965.-Early life:Davis was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, moving to Memphis with his parents at age 14. There he completed the high school curriculum of the public schools, and in 1917 he completed law school at the...
(D-Tennessee
United States congressional delegations from Tennessee
These are tables of congressional delegations from Tennessee to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.Like some states, Tennessee has undergone too much demographic change for some districts to be seen as a continuation of the same numbered district before...
), who was shot in the leg, Ben F. Jensen
Ben F. Jensen
Benton Franklin Jensen served thirteen consecutive terms as a U.S. Representative from Iowa's 7th congressional district in the southwestern corner of the state. While on the floor of the U.S...
(R-Iowa
United States Congressional Delegations from Iowa
These are tables of congressional delegations from Iowa to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:...
), who was shot in the back, as well as George Hyde Fallon (D-Maryland
United States Congressional Delegations from Maryland
These are tables of congressional delegations from Maryland to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:The alternating grey and white boxes indicate the duration of the actual six-year Senate terms....
) and Kenneth A. Roberts
Kenneth A. Roberts
Kenneth Allison Roberts was a U.S. Representative from Alabama.Born in Piedmont, Alabama, Roberts attended the public schools and Howard College, Birmingham, Alabama. He was graduated from the University of Alabama Law School in 1935 and admitted to the bar in 1936...
(D-Alabama
United States congressional delegations from Alabama
These are tables of congressional delegations from Alabama to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.-United States Senate:-1818 – 1819: 1 non-voting delegate:...
). House pages
United States House of Representatives Page
United States House of Representatives Page Program was a program run by the United States House of Representatives, under the office of the Clerk of the House, in which appointed high school juniors acted as non-partisan federal employees in the House of Representatives, providing supplemental...
helped carry Alvin Bentley off the House floor. Future congressmen Bill Emerson
Bill Emerson
Norvell William "Bill" Emerson was an American politician from Missouri. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 until his death in 1996. He was succeeded in the House by his widow, Jo Ann Emerson...
and Paul E. Kanjorski
Paul E. Kanjorski
Paul E. Kanjorski is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1985 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.The district includes the cities of Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Hazleton, as well as most of the Poconos....
were two of the congressional pages who were serving on the floor during the incident.
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
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
.
Assailants freed
Figueroa Cordero was released in 1978. In 1979, President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
freed the remaining assailants in exchange for Fidel Castro's
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
release of several American CIA agents being held in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
charges.
See also
- Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950sPuerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950sThe Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950s was a call for independence and uprising by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party against United States Government rule of Puerto Rico and against the approval of the creation of the political status "Free Associated State" for Puerto Rico which...
- Truman assassination attemptTruman assassination attemptThe assassination attempt on U.S. President Harry S. Truman occurred on November 1, 1950. It was perpetrated by two Puerto Rican pro-independence activists, Oscar Collazo and Griselio Torresola, while the President resided at the Blair House. The attempt resulted in the deaths of White House Police...
- Puerto Rican Nationalist PartyPuerto Rican Nationalist PartyThe Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
- Ponce MassacrePonce massacreThe Ponce massacre occurred on 21 March 1937 when a peaceful march in Ponce, Puerto Rico, by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party commemorating the ending of slavery in Puerto Rico by the governing Spanish National Assembly in 1873, and coinciding with a protest against the incarceration by the...
- Jayuya UprisingJayuya UprisingThe Jayuya Uprising, also known as the Jayuya Revolt or El Grito de Jayuya, refers to a nationalist revolt in the town of Jayuya, Puerto Rico which occurred on October 30, 1950...
- Nationalist attack of San JuanNationalist attack of San JuanThe Nationalist attack of San Juan was one of many uprisings against United States Government rule which occurred in Puerto Rico on October 30, 1950 during the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party revolts...
- Utuado UprisingUtuado UprisingThe Utuado Uprising, also known as the Utuado Revolt or El Grito de Utuado, refers to the revolt against the United States government in Puerto Rico which occurred on October 30, 1950 in various localities in Puerto Rico and which in Utuado culminated in the "Utuado massacre".-Events leading to the...
- Río Piedras massacreRío Piedras massacreThe Río Piedras massacre occurred at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, Puerto Rico, and involved a confrontation between local police officers and supporters of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party on October 24, 1935...
- Grito de LaresGrito de LaresEl Grito de Lares —also referred as the Lares uprising, the Lares revolt, Lares rebellion or even Lares Revolution—was the first major revolt against Spanish rule and call for independence in Puerto Rico...
- Puerto Rican Independence PartyPuerto Rican Independence PartyThe Puerto Rican Independence Party is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from United States suzerainty....
- United States Congress members killed or wounded in office
- United States Capitol shooting incident (1998)United States Capitol shooting incident (1998)The United States Capitol shooting incident of 1998 was an attack on July 24, 1998 which led to the death of two United States Capitol Police officers. Detective John Gibson and Officer Jacob Chestnut were killed when Russell Eugene Weston Jr. entered the Capitol and opened fire...
External links
General references:- "A Terrorist in the House" by Manuel Roig-Franzia, The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
Magazine, February 22, 2004, pg. W12. - "No one expected attack on Congress in 1954" Holland SentinelHolland SentinelThe Holland Sentinel is the daily newspaper in Holland, Michigan, founded in 1896.Originally an afternoon paper published six days a week, the paper moved to Saturday mornings and then added a Sunday edition in the late 1980s...
, February 29, 2004
Biographies from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
The Biographical Directory of the United States Congress is a biographical dictionary of all present and former members of the United States Congress as well as its predecessor, the Continental Congress...
: