Africa-Press – Liberia. The group accused the LCC leadership of failing to remain impartial in national affairs and aligning itself with the government of President Joseph Boakai.
Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), the civic pressure group led by former ruling party chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, has confirmed its acceptance of an invitation from the Ministry of Justice for a roundtable discussion ahead of its planned December 17 “Lead or Leave” protest. However, the group says it will not attend the meeting if the current leadership of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) is present, accusing the religious body of losing its neutrality and moral authority.
In a letter addressed to Joint Security Coordinator Col. Wilson W. Boe, Sr. and dated November 5, 2025, STAND expressed appreciation to the Ministry for recognizing the peaceful nature of its July 17 protest, describing it as a demonstration of the group’s “unyielding commitment to peace, progress, and democratic renewal.”
“We are gratified that the Ministry recognizes that we are not a violent group, but a respectable body of patriotic citizens driven by love for Liberia,” the group stated. “We act, speak, and even protest out of love for Liberia, and we willingly give ourselves to be ‘burnt’ in the service of its good and future.”
The Ministry of Justice had earlier invited STAND and the December 17 Protest Organizing Committee to a coordination meeting scheduled for Friday, November 7, 2025, to discuss security and logistical arrangements for the protest.
While confirming participation, STAND made it clear that it would withdraw from the meeting if the leadership of the LCC attends, citing what it termed as “consistent observations and prior experiences” that have “compromised the Council’s neutrality and moral standing.”
The group accused the LCC leadership of failing to remain impartial in national affairs and aligning itself with the government of President Joseph Boakai.
Among its allegations, STAND highlighted the Council’s silence following President Boakai’s public criticism of the July 17 protest and what it called “ethical misjudgment” in honoring a government official whose rise to the Speakership was “tainted by corruption and political manipulation.”
“It would be both impractical and inconsistent with our values to sit at the same table with individuals whose moral and institutional objectivity are deeply compromised,” the letter said.
The group has therefore requested that the Ministry proceed with the roundtable discussion excluding the LCC’s current leadership, insisting that its presence would “undermine the sincerity and credibility of the engagement.”
STAND reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful and democratic advocacy as it prepares for the December 17 protest, which it describes as “a people’s call for accountability, justice, and responsible governance.”
The upcoming protest, themed “Lead or Leave – Enough is Enough,” is being organized under the banner of WE THE PEOPLE Protest Consortium in collaboration with other civic and youth groups.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice has yet to publicly respond to STAND’s conditional acceptance or its objection to the involvement of the LCC.
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