Marking the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021, protests, Cuban lawyer and activist Fernando Almeyda shared a candid message on Facebook this past Saturday, recounting the physical assault he endured during the demonstrations and affirming his decision to take to the streets.
"I knew what I was getting into and what I was up against. I was very lucky," Almeyda wrote, as he reflected on what he calls the five-year milestone of the 11J protests.
Now living in Serbia as a political refugee, Almeyda doesn't shy away from detailing his experience that day: "They broke my face, but at least I wasn't killed like Diubis Laurencio, nor imprisoned like hundreds of others."
Diubis Laurencio Tejeda, a 36-year-old man, was the only officially recognized fatality by the regime during the 11J protests. He died on July 12, 2021, in the La Güinera neighborhood of Arroyo Naranjo, Havana, from a gunshot to the back attributed to Second Lieutenant Yoennis Pelegrín Hernández. The Military Prosecutor's Office deemed the incident "self-defense," and the officer faced no charges.
Almeyda was a co-founder of the Archipelago movement, a Cuban civil society platform that sent a letter to Díaz-Canel acknowledging the legitimacy of the protests and condemning the repression. He also played a key role in promoting the Civic March for Change and called for a demonstration on November 15, 2021, which was suppressed before it could occur.
Due to political persecution by the state police, Almeyda fled Cuba in February 2022, seeking asylum in Serbia, where he continues his activism and work as a human rights lawyer.
In his post, Almeyda resists attempts to erase his involvement in those events: "I'm aware that many would prefer this part of my history be omitted. That's precisely why I remind them."
The activist also reframes the impact of that day on his life journey: "The #11J didn't change my life; I changed my life because of #11J. And I am at peace with that."
The fifth anniversary of the 11J protests comes amid a grim backdrop for human rights in Cuba. According to the organization Justicia 11J, 338 individuals directly linked to the protests are still serving sentences. In May 2026, the total number of political prisoners on the island reached a historic high of between 1,260 and 1,281 people, as reported by various human rights organizations.
On April 2, 2026, the regime released 2,010 prisoners in a purported "humanitarian gesture," specifically excluding those convicted of "crimes against authority," a legal classification used to criminalize the 11J protesters. This past Saturday, the U.S. Embassy in Havana demanded the release of political prisoners, highlighting cases such as that of artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara.
Almeyda concluded his statement with an affirmation of identity that encapsulates five years of personal and political consequences: "To the joy of my friends and the curse of my foes, this is also who I am."
Understanding the July 11 Protests and Their Aftermath
What triggered the July 11, 2021, protests in Cuba?
The July 11 protests were sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with the Cuban government's handling of the economy, lack of basic freedoms, and poor living conditions, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who is Fernando Almeyda and what role did he play in the protests?
Fernando Almeyda is a Cuban lawyer and activist who co-founded the Archipelago movement and played a significant role in promoting civic protests in Cuba, including the July 11 demonstrations and the planned, but suppressed, November 15 march.
What is the current situation of political prisoners in Cuba?
As of May 2026, Cuba holds between 1,260 and 1,281 political prisoners, a record high since the protests. Many of these prisoners are linked to the 11J protests and remain incarcerated despite international calls for their release.