VIDEO – The Mirabal Sisters are a symbol of rebellion in the Dominican Republic. They were assassinated on November 25, 1960. In tribute, the UN has designated this date as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Patria, Minerva, and Marรญa Teresa, natives of the Dominican Republic, became symbols of resistance against tyranny. Daughters of wealthy merchants, the Mirabal sisters grew up in Salcedo, a city in the northern part of the country. During the 1950s, they strongly opposed the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo.
Minerva leading the rebellion
Minerva, the third sister, was the first and most committed against the regime. She had drawn the wrath of Rafael Trujillo after firmly rejecting his advances on two occasions. Numerous arrests took place, including that of her father, who eventually died from the mistreatment he suffered in prison. Then, the young woman who had successfully completed her law studies was forbidden to practice her profession on the dictator’s orders. All of this gave rise to “La Mariposa,” in English “the butterfly,” which was the nickname given to the resistant Minerva.
The birth of “Las Mariposas”
Deeply affected by the dictator’s regime as well, Patria and Maria Teresa joined Minerva in her fight. Together, under the pseudonym “Las Mariposas” (The Butterflies), they carried out clandestine actions against the regime. Their resistance drew the attention of authorities, and they were aware that they risked their lives for freedom. Marรญa Teresa once said, “What we may be closest to is death, but this idea does not frighten me: we will continue to fight for what is right.”
Assassinated for the cause
In 1960, Trujillo was determined to get rid of the Mirabal sisters. One day, when all three were visiting their imprisoned husbands, the regime’s secret services were waiting for them. Taken discreetly to an abandoned house, they were assassinated and placed in a car that was thrown off a cliff. This event transformed their struggle into a national symbol. Their death sparked widespread outrage, hastening the fall of Rafael Trujillo the following year. In their honor, the UN declared November 25, the day of their assassination, as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.