By: Naneka Hoffman
Brewerville, Liberia; July 15, 2025 – Former President of the Liberia Council of Churches, Bishop Dr. Kortu K. Brown, has reaffirmed his longstanding stance against street protests in Liberia.
He argues that while protest is a constitutional right, there are more constructive and peaceful ways to address national issues.
Speaking during a Sunday worship service at the New Water in the Desert Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Brewerville, Bishop Brown emphasized the importance of dialogue rather than confrontation.
“It is the constitutional right of any Liberian or group of Liberians to protest or raise issues of national concern,” he acknowledged, but cautions, “Of course, such protests are expected to be done in an orderly and peaceful fashion. But I have always not supported protests as the best approach.”
Bishop Brown recounted his efforts over the years to encourage engagement and dialogue between citizens and the government, particularly during times of political tension.
He recalled intervening during the previous administration in 2018 and 2019 to dissuade protest organizers, urging them to seek peaceful solutions.
“Even before then, we worked with the government and the CDC during Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s regime to avert the 2013 protest, urging all parties to engage in dialogue,” he recalls.
In December 2019, Bishop Brown played a key role in bringing both protest organizers represented by the Council of Patriots and government officials to the negotiation table at the Liberia Council of Churches headquarters in Sinkor, Monrovia.
“We sat for days trying to reach conclusions that would address the citizens’ concerns,” he recounted.
The Pentecostal cleric reiterated his belief that sustainable solutions can only come through mutual dialogue.
“No matter how long you protest, you’ll still need to come back to the table to address the issues of concern,” he said.
Bishop Brown calls for peace and calm among Liberians and urges the government to remain open and responsive to the people’s grievances.
“We cannot deny that there are serious problems: hunger, poverty, unemployment, and widespread discontent; many Liberians are not hopeful about the future. The government must foster an atmosphere for national dialogue.”
He criticizes what he considers a lack of seriousness among some public officials, pointing to their frequent social media activity that seems disconnected from their official duties.
“Everywhere you go, people are complaining about hard times and disjointed actions by government officials, many of whom seem more focused on social media than their work,” Bishop Brown observes.
He prays that Liberians would avoid violence and chaos, and choose instead, path of engagement and constructive dialogue. Editing by Jonathan Browne
