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The United States Embassy in Cuba launched a public call aimed at Cubans to participate in the campaign #Freedom250 through its official Facebook page, as part of the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence, which will be celebrated on July 4, 2026.
This year we have been commemorating #Freedom250, and in less than two months we will celebrate July 4th and the 250th anniversary of the United States. We want you to be part of this celebration,” the diplomatic mission posted.
The call invites Cubans to share a message, a short video no longer than 30 seconds, a photo, or a phrase about freedom or the historical relationship between Cuba and the United States.
“ If you could send a message about '#Freedom250', meaning freedom, or about the historical relationship between Cuba and the USA, what would you say? It could be a phrase, a wish, or an idea… something that comes from the heart,” the embassy stated.
Messages can be sent as comments on the Facebook post or to the email HavanaMedia@state.gov, and the embassy announced that it will publish a selection of them on July 4th.
#Freedom250 is a global campaign by the Department of State carried out through its entire network of embassies worldwide as a public diplomacy tool to commemorate the semi-quincentennial of American independence (1776-2026).
In Cuba, the campaign takes on a particularly symbolic dimension given the political context of the island, where freedom of expression is severely restricted by the dictatorship.
The embassy has been using the hashtag #Freedom250 since January 2026, associating it with historical Cuban figures.
In that month, the chargé d'affaires Mike Hammer employed it in celebration of José Martí's birthday, stating that the hero “inspires the realization of a free, dignified, and prosperous Cuba” for all Cubans.
In February 2026, Hammer delivered a replica of the Bell of Freedom to the bishop of Holguín as part of the commemorative events for the anniversary, and this month the embassy once again championed Martí in the context of the campaign less than two months before July 4th.
The most immediate background for this call is the repression exercised by the Cuban regime against the celebration of July 4, 2025, organized by the embassy itself.
On that occasion, State Security detained and monitored activists and opponents who attempted to attend the event, including Berta Soler, Oscar Elías Biscet, and Camila Acosta.
The Cuban government also threatened to expel Hammer for his meetings with opponents, religious figures, and members of civil society, a pressure that has not halted the public diplomatic activity of the mission.
In that context, the invitation for 2026—which urges Cubans to speak publicly about freedom—carries significant political weight in a country where expressing such ideas can have consequences.
"On July 4th, we will be publishing some of your messages," concluded the embassy, thus establishing a symbolic bridge between Cuban civil society and the commemoration of the most significant anniversary in recent U.S. history.
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