Dear Mr. President:
I commend your ongoing efforts toward national healing and reconciliation. As this process unfolds, I respectfully urge that it be extended to include a long-overdue gesture of dignity: the proper burial of victims of past misrule, most notably, those who perished during the tragic Rice Riot of April 14, 1979, among others.
On that day, unarmed civilians were gunned down in the streets of Monrovia by government security forces for protesting a proposed increase in the price of rice. In the aftermath of this tragedy, grieving families were denied the right to privately bury their loved ones. Instead, the victims’ bodies were callously discarded in unmarked mass graves—an action that remains a painful chapter in our national memory.
As we strive for true reconciliation, we must honor these lives and the courage they embodied. Their sacrifice in the struggle for rights, justice and better living conditions deserves remembrance and respect.
We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families and all Liberians in commemorating their bravery. May their souls continue to rest in peace. In the ongoing journey toward reform, national healing, and a more compassionate future, their legacy must not be forgotten.
Sincerely,
Cllr. Sarnyenneh M. Dickson
Resident of Congo Town
About the author
Sarnyenneh M. Dickson is a practicing lawyer with an extensive background in civil society work in Liberia. He also holds a degree in economics and has earned multiple professional diplomas and certificates in governance, accountability, and extractive industries management from various institutions across Africa and Europe. He currently serves as the Acting Executive Director of Sawabenu, a national-level organization dedicated to advancing the rule of law in Liberia. In addition to this role, Mr. Dickson is a member of the West Africa Network of Activists and Media Defense Lawyers (WANAMDEL) and the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA).
