How did four women bring down one of the most brutal dictators of the 20th century?

This book narrates the story of the Mirabal sisters, who had grown up under the tyranny of General Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina in the Dominican Republic of the 1950s. The cruel dictator had kept a stranglehold on the country for almost 30 years through intimidation, state-controlled oppression, and violence. He stripped the country of its natural assets for his own benefit by seizing control of local industries and farmland, while the population continued to live in fear of his heavy-handed tactics. All those who opposed him faced illegal imprisonment and torture; something that could not deter the brave Mirabal sisters from organizing in secret to bring about his downfall.

Minerva, Patria, and Marie Teresa, who became known as The Butterflies, were brutally clubbed to death by Trujillo’s henchmen in 1960. They were then strangled and their bodies thrown over a cliff in order to make the murder look like an accident. The bloody crime sent shockwaves throughout the land, resulting in Trujillo’s assassination at the hands of his own men some months later.

The Butterflies are now symbols of feminine resistance. The United Nations celebrates the 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in honor of the day these brave sisters lost their lives.

But what is the real story of the Mirabal sisters and why did they become the targets of one of the most powerful tyrants in the world? Who was this dictator and why was he so afraid of them?

This book tells the tragic yet courageous tale of the Mirabal sisters and explains why their murders are as relevant today as they were over sixty years ago. It also explores the relationship between state-endorsed violence against women and societal norms, and looks at what traits dictators have in common all over the world.

It is a story of bravery in the face of evil and strength in the face of death. It is a book for all women.

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