How America overthrew Guatemala's reformist president

In June 1954 President Jacobo Arbenz of Guatemala became the first Latin American leader overthrown in a coup organised by the US government.

On taking power, President Arbenz had proposed land reforms that were considered a threat to the interests of the powerful United Fruit Company in Guatemala.

He was labelled a communist by Washington and the US company lobbied for his removal.

Witness History hears from Arbenz's son, who was seven at the time, about the devastating effect of the coup on his family.

Witness: The stories of our times told by the people who were there.

19 Jun 2019

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/stories-48638209/how-america-overthrew-guatemala-s-reformist-president

Video at link, lasting 4 minutes 10 seconds, short comment by the son of the deposed non-Communist, beloved President of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz. I learned something I had never heard. Very goddamned sad.