The United States marked the fourth anniversary of Cuba’s July 11, 2021, demonstrations by stepping up public support for the island’s pro-democracy movement. The U.S. Deputy Secretary of State met in Washington with Cuban activists and relatives of detainees, underscoring what the Department described as Washington’s “steadfast support for freedom and democracy in Cuba.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a separate statement, praised the protesters’ resolve and urged Havana to release all political prisoners. Human Rights Watch and other monitoring groups say the Cuban government has tightened repression rather than loosening it since the mass protests. A new HRW briefing, based on interviews with former inmates, details beatings, sleep deprivation and prolonged isolation in eight prisons. Prisoners Defenders counts 1,158 political prisoners nationwide, including 752 people still jailed for taking part in the 2021 marches. One of the most prominent detainees, opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, has allegedly been subjected to force-feeding and other forms of torture while on hunger strike, according to family members. Rubio demanded proof that Ferrer is alive and renewed calls for his unconditional release. Despite heavy policing, public discontent continues. The Cuban Observatory of Conflicts recorded more than 8,400 protests last year, a 31 % jump from 2023, driven by chronic shortages of food, medicine and electricity. Analysts say the anniversary has become a fresh flashpoint, with Havana relying on tighter censorship and security cordons to deter new demonstrations.