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Hüseyin Dogru@hussedogru · Dec 5, 2025

The banana empire "Chiquita" massacred up to 2000 striking Colombian banana pickers on this day in 1928. But the…

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Summary

On December 5, 1928, the United Fruit Company (now Chiquita) orchestrated a massacre of up to 2,000 striking Colombian banana workers in Ciénaga, with Colombian military troops opening fire on the crowd. This massacre marked a pivotal moment in Colombia's labor history and exemplified the company's long pattern of exploitation, corruption, and military-backed violence throughout Latin America.

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  1. #1

    The banana empire "Chiquita" massacred up to 2000 striking Colombian banana pickers on this day in 1928. But the bloodbath is just one chapter in Chiquita's long, bloodstained history. 🧵

  2. #2

    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."

  3. #3

    The strike lasted over two months before the United Fruit Company asked the Colombian military to besiege banana plantations in the Ciénaga municipality.

  4. #4

    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.

  5. #5

    The massacre traumatized Colombia's labor movement and paved the way for militant Communist struggles that continue to shape the country today.

  6. #6

    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."

  7. #7

    The company engaged in several military coups in Honduras and Guatemala that guaranteed decades of tax exemption. Just last year, Chiquita stood trial in US courts for dirty deals with far-right Colombian paramilitaries.