Fariñas’ strike was to not only protest the death of Zapata but also for the release of 26 other gravely ill prisoners who he believed were not receiving proper medical assistance.
However, even with the hunger strike and some world support, the Cuban government showed no signs of backing down as they felt they were being pressured and even tried to argue it was because of paid U.S., mercenaries trying to overthrow their political system.
While President Raul Castro claimed he would not give into the "blackmail of the hunger strike", he changed his mind after mediation by the Catholic Church and released 52 prisoners.
After the Cuban government had negotiations with the Roman Catholic Church and finally agreed to move the political inmates to prisons that gave better medical assistance and allowed them to be closer to their families.
July 7, 2010 was the day that discussions between the Cuban government and the Catholic Church ended with an agreement to release the total of 52 prisoners, including the 26 inmates for which Fariñas had protested .