Gaitan was the charismatic leader of the Liberal Party in the 1940s. Depending on affiliation he was seen as a demogogue, populist or leftist leaning politician. Fact is his assassination in 1948 triggered an enormous people's protest movement against the conservative government.. Depending on affiliation this movement was called a riot culminating in anarchy, while others defended the outburst as justified protest and said focus on side effects like looting was just a way to legitimize brutal repression.600 to 3000 people were killed. In Bogota the turmoil was called Bogotazo. In Colombia as a whole the period that followed the events in Bogota is refered to as La Violencia.

This is a memorial - actually it is a few plaques on a wall - to commemorate where Gaitan was politically assassinated in 1948. To be honest it would be easy to miss unless you knew where it was.