In fact there was a previous terrorist attack on Congress, in 1954, and it was led by a woman. Puerto Rican nationalist Lolita Lebrón organized a machine gun ambush from the House gallery which wounded five members of Congress. (A few months ago, at age 81, Lebrón was sentenced to 60 days in jail for trespassing at Vieques.) The story is, sadly, familiar:
Because of a desperation which was superhuman, three or four island patriots led by Lolita Lebrón took the road from New York to Washington. They made the trip by bus, because it was cheaper. The U.N. officials who failed to read Lolita Lebrón's poster [This reference by Jose de Vasconcelos is of a picture that appeared of Lolita Lebrón in the N.Y. Times with a picket sign reading "We demand the complete independence of Puerto Rico." (1953)] travel high above in jet planes; they could not discern the humble caravan headed by Lolita Lebrón. The island girl, like her comrades, bought only a one way ticket partly for the economy, no doubt, but also because they realized that they were on a trip from which there was no return.
originally posted by xowie
