Africa-Press – Liberia. The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day, widely known as STAND, has intensified preparations for its nationwide protest scheduled for December 17, with Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu announcing that the upcoming demonstration will mark what he described as a turning point in Liberia’s democratic struggle.
Speaking at a hastily convened press conference in Monrovia Tuesday, Morlu declared that the protest would launch a sustained, mass-based, and irreversible nonviolent resistance aimed at pressing the government to address worsening social and governance conditions across the country.
According to Morlu, the planned protest is a direct response to what he called the sharp decline in accountability and public welfare under the current administration.
He reminded journalists that on July 17 thousands of Liberians stood in heavy rain along Capitol Bypass to deliver a petition listing grievances about collapsing health facilities, deteriorating schools, rising crime, and persistent police brutality.
He said the peaceful exercise was treated with disregard by the government. “We saw senior state actors mock the process, and we saw the president ignore the voices of citizens who had stood for hours in the rain,” Morlu told reporters. “That signaled to us that the grievances of the people were not being taken seriously.”
Despite the government’s reaction, Morlu noted that the Ministry of Justice later acknowledged the July protest as peaceful and orderly. “That letter from the Ministry of Justice is testimony that we are a law-abiding and patriotic movement,” he said. “It confirms that our actions have always been in the interest of protecting the peace of the country.”
Morlu told journalists that the December 17 demonstration will be centered in Monrovia, where citizens are expected to assemble as early as 6 a.m. on the grounds of the Executive Mansion.
He insisted that STAND would not accept any attempt by authorities to redirect protesters to a different location. “On December 17, we will converge at the Executive Mansion, and let it be clear that this decision is not up for negotiation,” he declared. “That is the property of the Liberian people, and the people will not be denied their constitutional right to assemble on their own grounds.”
The chairman warned that no forms of state intimidation would deter Liberians from exercising their rights. “We will not be turned around by tear gas, by hot water trucks, or by bullets,” he said. “The Liberian people are prepared to exercise a constitutional right, and no amount of aggression will cause them to retreat.”
He cited Article 17 of the Constitution, which gives citizens the right to assemble peacefully and petition their leaders when governance threatens the welfare of the state.
Morlu said Liberia is now facing an escalating crisis marked by hunger, unemployment, and the collapse of basic services. He accused security forces of routinely abusing citizens, referencing alleged incidents involving mentally challenged individuals, residents of mining communities, and market women whose goods he said are frequently seized without accountability.
According to him, the government’s decision to increase the national police budget suggests that authorities are rewarding rather than correcting brutality. “Citizens are dying of hunger, the economy is suffocating our people, and yet dissent is being violently suppressed,” he said. “That cannot continue in a democratic society.”
The STAND chairman also accused President Joseph Boakai of undermining the rule of law by influencing legislative affairs, particularly the election of the current Speaker. Morlu argued that these actions reflect deeper political manipulation aimed at strengthening executive control.
“The president has violated standing laws, municipal laws, and even rulings of the Supreme Court,” he said. “When a leader governs outside the law, the country descends into lawlessness, and that is the abyss Liberia is heading toward under the current administration.”
Morlu emphasized that the upcoming protest will remain peaceful but firm, continuing until the government takes meaningful steps to address citizens’ demands. He described December 17 as a pivotal moment for the country. “This is the beginning of a peaceful democratic revolution,” he said. “We will stand until the president listens to the people and initiates genuine reform. Enough is enough.”
STAND is urging Liberians from across the nation to participate, insisting that the movement is larger than any single organization or leader. “December 17 is not about STAND alone,” Morlu added. “It is about the Liberian people choosing a new path and demanding a new day for their country.”
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