The Sisters Who Took On A Dictator
History's Heroes
BBC
4.8 • 824 Ratings
🗓️ 13 January 2026
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
At the height of a vicious regime in the Dominican Republic, Minerva Mirabal and her sisters risk everything to liberate their nation. How would their actions help topple the dictator Rafael Trujillo?
Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.
A BBC Studios production.
Producer: Michael LaPointe Written and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann Executive Producer: Paul Smith Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
Transcript
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| 0:23.8 | I wouldn't want to be a traitor. |
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| 0:51.0 | He insisted on the loyalty of others, and those who were not loyal to him were punished. |
| 0:57.6 | His name was General Rafael Trujillo, and he was from the Dominican Republic in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. |
| 1:04.4 | The country looked like paradise, palm trees, sandy beaches, sparkling turquoise waters, but he made it hell. |
| 1:14.0 | In 1930, he was elected president. |
| 1:16.9 | He was elected in air quotes. |
| 1:19.6 | General Trujillo seized power in a coup. |
| 1:22.6 | Afterwards, he stood for election, but had his soldiers guard the poll booths and allowed no other candidate to stand against him. |
| 1:30.8 | Soon after this, another disaster hit the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo. |
| 1:36.0 | A hurricane devastated the city. |
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