José Eliécer Gaitán

José Eliécer Gaitán was a prominent Colombian politician and leader of the Liberal Party, known for his fiery oratory and advocacy for social justice during the mid-20th century. He became a symbol of the struggle for the rights of the working class and the poor in Colombia. Gaitán's assassination in 1948 sparked widespread riots and political upheaval known as the 'Bogotazo,' marking a significant turning point in Colombian history and leading to a period of violence known as La Violencia.