SALCEDO, Dominican Republic – President Luis Abinader presided over solemn centennial celebrations Thursday honoring revolutionary icon Minerva Mirabal, whose courageous resistance against Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship continues to inspire democratic values nationwide. The commemorative events, held in Hermanas Mirabal Province, recognized Mirabal’s profound impact on the nation’s political evolution and her enduring symbol of freedom.
During the ceremonial gathering, President Abinader unveiled an extensive year-long program of national and international activities designed to perpetuate Mirabal’s legacy. The president characterized her as both a visionary leader and fearless activist whose revolutionary actions fundamentally catalyzed democratic transformation in the Dominican Republic.
In a poignant prelude to the main ceremony, President Abinader, accompanied by First Lady Raquel Arbaje and government officials, placed a commemorative wreath at the Mirabal Sisters House Museum – the final resting place of the three assassinated siblings. The president emphasized how Minerva maintained unwavering commitment to her ideals despite enduring severe persecution and imprisonment under the oppressive regime.
Historical records document Minerva Mirabal’s pivotal role alongside her husband Manuel Aurelio Tavárez Justo in the clandestine June 14th Revolutionary Movement, where she operated under the codename ‘La Mariposa’ (The Butterfly). Her tragic assassination on November 25, 1960, alongside sisters Patria and María Teresa, transformed the Mirabal sisters into enduring symbols of anti-dictatorship resistance throughout Latin America.
Minou Tavárez Mirabal, representing the Mirabal family, expressed gratitude for governmental support through Decree 117-26, which formally mandates nationwide initiatives celebrating Minerva’s multifaceted legacy as a political theorist, intellectual, and human rights advocate. The commemorative events included the announcement of national student competitions and the inauguration of the special exhibition ‘Mirabal Sisters: A Century Later,’ ensuring continued awareness across generations.