The Banana Empire “Chiquita” massacred up to 2,000 striking Colombian banana pickers on this day in 1928. But the bloodbath is just one chapter in Chiquita’s long, bloodstained history. 🧵 x.com
Over 25,000 plantation workers went on strike in 1928 against exploitation, including wages less than 100 Colombian pesos ($0.025). Back then, Chiquita was named “United Fruit Company.” x.com
The strike lasted over two months before the United Fruit Company asked the Colombian military to besiege banana plantations in the Ciénaga municipality. x.com
The troops set up their machine guns on rooftops at the Ciénaga main square. On the night of December 5, 300 soldiers opened fire on the dense crowd of workers, families, and children, killing thousands. x.com
The massacre traumatized Colombia’s labor movement and paved the way for militant communist struggles that continue to shape the country today. x.com
Chiquita’s extensive connections with successive Colombian governments protected the banana empire from liability. Its influence spread throughout Latin America, giving rise to the term “banana republics.” x.com
The company engaged in several military coups in Honduras and Guatemala that guaranteed decades of tax exemption. Just two years ago, Chiquita stood trial in US courts for dirty deals with far-right Colombian paramilitaries. x.com
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