A BRIEF HISTORY OF COLOMBIA
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worst from the opposition. Both sides trumpeted an "it-can-happen-here"
attitude, which eventually became a self-fulfilling prophecy. 1946 was the
beginning of La Violencia.
In 1947, Gaitán became sole leader of the Liberal Party and its candidate for the
1950 presidential election. As La Violencia continued, he organized a silent
march in Bogotá in February 1948 in which he accused the government of
encouraging the murder of Liberals and their families. Two months later, on April
9, Gaitán was assassinated outside of his law office on his way to lunch on the
Carrera Septima with Avenida Jiménez in Bogotá (the site is marked with several
plaques, a few meters from a McDonald's). Because of the assassination and the
events that followed, the nation lost its last chance to stop and reverse La
Violencia. It was a major turning point in Colombian history. Gaitán's assassin
was immediately seized by a crowd and lynched; his body was dragged down the
Septima to the Presidential Palace. The crowd blamed the Conservative
government and armed itself with whatever was at hand to overthrow Ospina
and his ministers. Radio stations were seized and exaggerated reports were
broadcast to the nation declaring that a revolutionary government had taken
over in Bogotá, inspiring actions and reactions throughout the rest of the
country. Rioters targeted Conservatives, government ministries, and church
buildings. The pock marks of bullets from April 9 are still visible on the belfries of
Bogotá's cathedral. However, revolution was thwarted: the army stayed loyal to
the government and the presidential guard defended the Palace. In their
frustration, rioters turned to looting and drink, and by early evening, there was
little organization on the streets. By that time, Liberal Party leaders had made
their way to the Presidential Palace for negotiations, and a unity government
was immediately formed to calm passions — although it would not last a year.
The 9th of April was complicated by the fact that there were so many foreigners
in Bogotá that day — the Ninth Panamerican Conference was meeting there at
the time. This was at the beginning of the Cold War, and the U.S. government
wanted the assembled representatives to pass an anti-communist resolution.