Les Cayes massacre

Les Cayes massacre
Part of United States occupation of Haiti
Map
LocationMarchaterre, Les Cayes, Haiti
Date6 December 1929
Deaths12–22
Injured51
VictimsHaitian protesters
Perpetrators United States Marine Corps

The Les Cayes massacre, also known as the Marchaterre massacre, was a massacre on 6 December 1929 in Les Cayes perpetrated by United States Marine Corps (USMC) troops against Haitians protesting the United States occupation of Haiti. The massacre was instrumental in placing pressure on the United States to withdraw its occupying forces from Haiti.

At the time of the massacre, the United States had invaded Haiti over fourteen years earlier in 1915, with the USMC occupying the Caribbean nation through a military regime on behalf of American business interests. By October 1929, Haitians grew increasingly angered with the American occupation of their nation, and protests broke out, resulting in a general strike. Such demonstrations culminated with the Les Cayes massacre, which resulted in international condemnation and later the end of American occupation.