Everything Everywhere Daily · Thursday, September 3, 2026
In 1937, Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo orchestrated the Parsley Massacre, a systematic slaughter of ethnic Haitians living in the border region. This event created an intensely anti-Haitian atmosphere within the Dominican Republic and stands as a dark chapter in the complex and often violent relationship between the two nations sharing the island of Hispaniola.
“As the island entered the 20th century, both sides faced profound challenges. Those challenges were compounded by conflicts between the two countries, including the Parsley Massacre of 1937.”
“The Parsley Massacre was orchestrated by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, who ordered the systematic slaughter of ethnic Haitians living in the northwest border region, creating an intense anti-Haitian environment in the Dominican Republic.”