The announcement was made by SUP Chairman Sylvester Wheeler, who emphasized the party’s commitment to fighting for accountability for those affected by the brutal assault during the protests.
Monrovia – The Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP) has announced plans for a nationwide mobilization on April 14, 2025, to demand justice for victims of state violence during the July 26, 2022 student protests.
By: Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
The announcement was made by SUP Chairman Sylvester Wheeler, who emphasized the party’s commitment to fighting for accountability for those affected by the brutal assault during the protests.
The April 14 mobilization is particularly significant as it marks the 46th anniversary of the April 14, 1979 massacre, when students and workers were killed under the True Whig Party’s rule. SUP has made it clear that this day will not only commemorate the victims of the 1979 massacre but will also serve as a rallying point for justice for those brutalized during the July 2022 protests.
Wheeler stated, “We will commemorate the 46th anniversary of the April 14, 1979 massacre with an action that demands justice for all victims of state violence, particularly the students brutalized on July 26, 2022. The criminals involved in these atrocities are still walking free, and the government continues to ignore our calls for justice. We will no longer sit idly by while our fellow comrades suffer.”
SUP has also criticized the government for its inaction in addressing the violence from the 2022 protests. The party has vowed to take direct action if the authorities fail to hold the perpetrators accountable, even warning of citizen arrests should the government continue to delay justice.
“If the government continues to find it difficult to bring these criminals to justice, SUP will not hesitate to institute citizen arrests and ensure that all those involved in the brutalization of peaceful protesters on July 26, 2022, face consequences for their actions,” Wheeler warned.
In addition to demanding justice for protest victims, SUP issued a strong critique of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration. Wheeler accused the Boakai government of being ineffective and unable to address the critical issues facing the country, including poverty, unemployment, hunger, and the collapsing healthcare system.
Wheeler criticized the government’s failure to implement reforms and address Liberia’s poor economic situation, highlighting the rising inflation and the devaluation of the Liberian dollar. “Under Boakai’s regime, the Liberian people are suffering,” Wheeler stated. “Our health system is in shambles, our economy is failing, and yet the president’s actions continue to undermine efforts to create a better future.”
SUP also took issue with comments made by University of Liberia (UL) President Dr. Layli Maparyan regarding the Liberia Football Association (LFA) controversy. The party denounced her remarks as “reckless and out of touch” with students’ concerns, accusing her of using her position to intimidate and silence dissent.
Wheeler criticized Maparyan for her silence during a recent incident where police disrupted peaceful protests at UL with tear gas and force. “Maparyan failed to speak out when Boakai’s police invaded the campus with guns and tear gas,” Wheeler said. “Now she wants to lecture us about being civil? We cannot stand for this kind of hypocrisy.”
SUP reiterated its commitment to radical action and civil disobedience, arguing that the current political system in Liberia requires a more direct, confrontational approach to bring about meaningful change. Wheeler emphasized that the party would continue to fight for the rights of the people and would not back down in the face of intimidation or repression.
“We will continue to fight for the rights of the people, and we will not back down in the face of intimidation or repression,” Wheeler declared.
