Our attention has been drawn to an ongoing misunderstanding between the Liberia National Police (LNP) and STAND, the organizers of a highly publicized street protest scheduled for July 17, 2025. In a special statement delivered via the LNP’s official Facebook page on the evening of July 7, 2025, Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman requested that protesters adhere to the law and refrain from any acts of vandalism.
The Police Inspector General urged the protest organizers to engage with the Ministry of Justice to obtain the necessary permit and to inform law enforcement officers of the proposed route for the protest so that state security can provide adequate protection. Importantly, the IG noted that, as of now, the police have not seen any engagement from the organizers; however, the group has disputed this claim.
In contrast to IG Coleman’s statements, STAND, in collaboration with the ‘We the People Movement’ and other allied grassroots organizations, contends that they have notified the Ministry of Justice of their intent to hold a nationwide peaceful protest from July 15 to 17, 2025. STAND emphasized that the planned demonstration is in line with Article 17 of Liberia’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly.
This situation highlights a potential breakdown of communication and coordination between both parties. If not addressed, it could lead to chaos. We call for a mutual understanding between the Police and the protest organizers to prevent this looming national threat. Past experiences have shown that peaceful demonstrations can quickly escalate into violence due to poor coordination between state security and protesters. We cannot afford to regress into this troubling history.
We urge the protesters to work collaboratively with the Liberia National Police by following all necessary processes for holding a peaceful and impactful protest, as guaranteed under the Liberian Constitution. Above all else, Liberia matters!
