Griselio Torresola

Griselio Torresola (1925 – November 1, 1950) born in Jayuya, Puerto Rico, was one of two Puerto Rican Nationalists who attempted to assassinate United States President Harry Truman.

Torresola came from a family which believed in the Puerto Rican independence cause. They had participated in many of the island's past revolts including the Jayuya uprising. Torresola moved to the City of New York on August 1948. He was employed by a New York stationery and perfume store. A divorce from his first wife affected him emotionally and eventually he lost his job. He remarried and lived with one of his two daughters on a welfare check of $125 a month.

Torresola was a member of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party and soon joined forces with fellow Nationalist Oscar Collazo. They participated in the attempted assassination of president Truman on November 1, 1950, while the president was residing in the Blair House while the White House was being renovated. The Nationalist Party was led by the charismatic Pedro Albizu Campos. The party had rejected political participation through balloting and advocated violent resistance to the annexation of Puerto Rico by the U.S..

Nationalists were increasingly angered by what they viewed as great injustices, including the Ponce Massacre, the extrajudicial murders of some members, the jailing of Albizu for his advocacy of violent resistance, and the impending changes of Puerto Rico's status from a non-autonomous territory to a partially self-governing commonwealth. They viewed Puerto Rico as a colony demanding independence.

In the attack on the Blair House, Griselio and Oscar Collazo attempted to enter violently. During the attack on the president, a policeman, Private Leslie Coffelt, was killed. Two policeman were wounded and Torresola was killed. Oscar Collazo was sentenced to death, later commuted by Truman to a life sentence.

Collazo is quoted as saying "It would not be justice to Griselio if we merely remembered him for his ability with weapons. We must remember the brave and expert guerilla of the mountains of Jayuya as the patriot who never had doubts when his country called him to completion of his duty."

He left behind a young wife and two daughters. Some who favor independence for Puerto Rico consider him a hero.