Mirabal de González, Patria (1924–1960)

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Mirabal de González, Patria (1924–1960)

Dominican political activist and one of the Mirabal sisters. Name variations: Las Mariposas (The Butterflies). Born Patria Mercedes Mirabal, Feb 27, 1924; assassinated by command of Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic, Nov 25, 1960; dau. of Enrique Mirabal and Mercedes Mirabal; had sisters Minerva, María Teresa, and Dedé; married; children: son, Nelson González Mirabal (became chief aide to the nation's vice president, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal).

Dominican Republic political activist who, in the generation after her death, was transformed into national martyr, feminist icon and revolutionary hero, along with sisters; joined the anti-Trujillo underground forces; having been involved with the failed revolt of June 1959, husband was arrested and imprisoned; along with sisters, was known within the underground Movimiento Revolucionario 14 de Junio (MR14J) by the code name of Mariposa (butterfly) and soon became known to agents of Trujillo's secret police; arrested, subjected to torture, and killed.

See also Julia Alvarez, In the Time of the Butterflies (1994); and Women in World History.