Mirabal Sisters Murder

In Cuba there could not be a stronger sentiment against Batista than there is here against Trujillo. I can't explain why over there they can make revolutions, overthrow tyrants and here, given the conditions, they can't ... It is clear that if something is organized against Trujillo, it is evident that we can achieve it here too.'' Minerva Mirabal

On May 18, 1960, the sisters Minerva and Maria Teresa Mirabal had been tried in Santo Domingo and imprisoned, accused of threatening the security of the Dominican State. On August 9, as part of the assassination plan, Trujillo ordered their release. Their husbands, however, Manolo Tavarez, Leandro Guzman and Patria Mirabal's husband Pedro Gonzalez, remained in prison. Transferring the first two to the jail of Puerto Plata, to prepare the alibi for the crime.

These dispositions of Trujillo had a double purpose, first to demonstrate his "generosity" and second to give freedom to the people he would assassinate by simulating an accident, this was a method commonly used by the regime to disappear his political adversaries. Trujillo ordered the definitive disappearance of the Mirabal sisters and entrusted the Military Intelligence Service (SIM) to execute the plan.

On November 25, they set out for Puerto Plata to visit their husbands Minerva and Maria Teresa, accompanied by their older sister Patria. Rufino de la Cruz was at the wheel. On their return, after visiting their imprisoned husbands, upon arriving at the Marapica bridge, they were stopped by the SIM, who crossed the car on the bridge.

The three sisters were kidnapped, at gunpoint, and put in the back seat of the vehicle of their executioners, while three of them boarded with the driver Rufino de la Cruz in the jeep, heading towards La Cumbre where the house was located, where Captain Alicinio Peña Rivera was waiting for them to give them the final instructions.

Después de ser salvajemente apaleados y ahorcados, fueron colocados en el interior del jeep y arrojados por un precipicio para aparentar un accidente automovilístico.

Trujillo's order had been carried out.

The story did not end, however, with the death on the road. From the dark precipice emerged the conscience and six months later Trujillo was ambushed and executed on May 30, 1961 and Minerva's words were fulfilled:

"If they kill me... I'll pull my arms out of the grave And I will be stronger". Minerva Mirabal