With all the discussion here on VL around Jen’s post : Is Puerto Rico Latin America?, and in light of today being International Women’s Day I thought it would be appropriate to highlight Latina mujeres who have impacted the world. One of my personal sheros is Lolita Lebron.

Lolita Lebron was destined to be a freedom fighter, as indicated by her birth as Dolores Lebrón Sotomayor in 1919 in Lares, Puerto Rico, home of the Grito de Lares. Lolita, a mother, migrated to New York City in the 1940’s like many other Puerto Rican women to end up working as a seamstress. Lolita went to school at night. It was also in the U.S. (note: when the term U.S. is used I mean the mainland United States as defined by the 50 states) where Lolita became a disciple of Puerto Rican Nationalist leader Don Pedro Albizu Campos. On March 1, 1954, Lolita Lebron, along with Rafael Cancel Miranda, Irving Flores and Andrés Figueroa Cordero protested the 1952 creating of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico by unfurling a Puerto Rican flag, shouting “Viva Puerto Rico Libre!” and began shooting into the U.S. House of Representatives. When Lolita was arrested she announced:

I did not come to kill anyone, I came to die for Puerto Rico!

. She was charged and convicted and Lolita was sentenced to 50 years in prison for her act but was pardoned and released in 1979 by President Carter.

Some call Lolita a terrorist, other call her a hero who expected March 1, 1954 to be her last day alive, as she was prepared to sacrifice her own life for what she believed in, as many have done in the United States and across the globe.

Via / Virtual Boricua