Jorge Eliecer Gaitan

A leftist parliamentarian from the Bogota middle classes who had started his career with complaints against the United Fruit Company for the Banana Massacre in the late twenties. Faced with his growing political strength, he was seen by his critics of conservatism or the more right-wing sectors of liberalism as a simple demagogue.

He was elected representative to the Chamber and became president of that corporation. Mayor of Bogotá in 1936, then he was senator of the Republic and in 1944 presidential candidate.

He was Minister of Labor, sole head of the Liberal Party and presidential candidate for that group. His death, on April 9, 1948, gave rise to the so-called Bogotazo and ignited the spark of partisan violence of the 50s.

He was elected representative to the Chamber and became president of that corporation. Mayor of Bogotá in 1936, then he was senator of the Republic and in 1944 presidential candidate. He was Minister of Labor, sole head of the Liberal Party, and presidential candidate. His death, on April 9, 1948, gave rise to the so-called Bogotazo. One day, a man (Juan Roa Sierra) waited for him at the entrance of the building where his office was located and gave him three shots with a revolver.

Following the murder of the popular leader, clashes between liberal and conservative supporters were raised. The strong demonstrations and the police repression produced a balance of at least 3,000 dead or missing and more than 140 buildings destroyed in several cities of the country and with a majority in Bogotá.