She was one of the three Mirabal sisters—Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa—tragically assassinated in November 1960 for their brave opposition to the oppressive regime of dictator Rafael Trujillo. The Mirabal name has since become a symbol of courage and resistance, especially among those who value justice and human rights. A fourth sister, Dede Mirabal, though not directly targeted that day, lived on to honor her siblings’ legacy by opening a museum dedicated to their memory—a lasting tribute that keeps the Mirabal story alive.
Before they became symbols of defiance, the Mirabal sisters, including her, formed a secret anti-Trujillo group known as the Movement of the Fourteenth of June. Operating underground, they adopted the poetic code name Las Mariposas—The Butterflies—a fitting metaphor for transformation and freedom. It was under this name that her influence began to grow, quietly but powerfully, across the Dominican Republic.
Her husband, along with the husbands of her sisters Patria and María Teresa, was imprisoned due to their political activism. On that fateful day in November, while traveling to visit their imprisoned spouses, the three Mirabal sisters were ambushed. Government-ordered assassins intercepted them, cutting short the lives of these courageous women. Yet, even in death, the Mirabal name continued to inspire movements for democracy and equality. Her legacy, deeply tied to the Mirabal family’s sacrifice, remains a powerful reminder of the cost of resistance—and the enduring strength of those who dare to speak truth to power.
Before they were tragically killed, she and her sister Maria Teresa had been imprisoned multiple times, and during those periods, they were subjected to torture. It’s heartbreaking to think about what they endured, especially knowing that their suffering was prolonged over several instances. She remained strong throughout, even when faced with such unimaginable pain alongside her sister. The repeated acts of imprisonment and torture only highlight the severity of the situation they were in before their lives were cut short.