Посол США в Кубе посетил активистов и семьи политзаключенных после репрессий режима

Mike Hammer, the head of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, recently made visits to activists, dissidents, independent journalists, and relatives of political prisoners from the July 11 protests. This move was a direct response to the Cuban State Security's efforts to prevent many Cubans from attending the Fourth of July celebrations. The embassy shared the visits through a video tagged with #ConCubanosDeAPie, which garnered over 22,000 views on Facebook. "Even though they were blocked from attending our July celebration of freedom, we will continue to meet with Cubans who value freedom of expression, religion, press, respect for human rights, and living with dignity," the embassy stated alongside the video. State Security's Crackdown The immediate backdrop to these visits was the repressive operation on July 2, when State Security agents blocked activists, journalists, and dissidents from joining the celebration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence at Hammer's residence. Among those visited by Hammer were young activist Ana Bensi and members of the group Fuera de la Caja Cuba with their families; Berta Soler, leader of the Damas de Blanco, and dissident Ángel Moyá; former political prisoner and doctor Óscar Elías Biscet and his wife, activist Elsa Morejón; and independent journalists Yoani Sánchez and Reinaldo Escobar, founders of 14ymedio. Families of July 11 Prisoners The diplomat also met with parents of young people imprisoned for the July 11 protests: Wilber Aguilar, whose son Walnier is serving a 12-year sentence; Daimy Albornoz, mother of Yoanky Báez Albornoz, sentenced to 14 years; Yenisey Taboada, mother of Duannis León Taboada, with the same sentence; and Carlos Martín, father of Dayron Martín Rodríguez, who was initially given a 30-year sentence—later reduced to 22 years on appeal—for recording the protests in La Güinera with his phone. In the video, Hammer delivered a personal message to those he visited: "We wanted to come here to talk with you again, see how things are going, hear from you, and, well, discuss what happened on July 2. You have all the encouragement from us because, as Sofia said, you have done nothing wrong or illegal. You're simply expressing your ideas, your thoughts, which is something every human should be able to do." Testimonies of Suffering The video captured the stories of the families of political prisoners, painting a picture of years of suffering and harassment. "We've been suffering the absence of our son for five years," one parent shared. Another added, "Words can't describe what we've been through, because not only are they locked behind bars, but they have also done so much to our family, to their children." Dayron Martín Rodríguez's mother summarized her son's harsh sentence with a phrase that underscores the severity: "In the trial, they gave him 30 years. 30, 30." One testimony also highlighted how the regime has turned religious practice into a tool of repression: "They have made the religious freedom of the Damas de Blanco a political target." Celebration Amid Restrictions Despite the obstacles, the Fourth of July celebration took place at the mission chief's residence, with several dozen Cubans managing to bypass the police blockade. During his speech that night, Hammer noted the absence of many: "Where is Yoani Sánchez? Where is Ana Sofía Benítez? Where are the kids from Fuera de la Caja? It's unacceptable." According to the organization Justicia 11J, as of July 2026, 338 individuals directly connected to the July 2021 protests remained imprisoned, out of a total of 775 documented political prisoners in Cuba. U.S. Diplomatic Efforts in Cuba What was Mike Hammer's response to the Cuban regime's actions? Mike Hammer, head of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, visited activists and families of political prisoners to show solidarity and support despite the regime's attempts to prevent them from attending the Fourth of July celebrations. Who were some of the individuals visited by Mike Hammer? Mike Hammer visited several individuals, including activists Ana Bensi and members of Fuera de la Caja Cuba, Damas de Blanco leader Berta Soler, dissident Ángel Moyá, and journalists Yoani Sánchez and Reinaldo Escobar. How did the Cuban regime respond to the Fourth of July celebration? The Cuban regime employed State Security agents to prevent activists, journalists, and dissidents from attending the U.S. Independence Day celebration at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.