Peaceful Protests Rare but Made Possible by July 17 Campaigners -Organizers Lauded, as Predicted Doom Passes Over

MONROVIA: Prophets of dooms and glooms had prophesized that there would have been chaos, bloodshed, and even deaths if the July 17 protest by STAND and allies was allowed and carried out. The forecasters were partly right, given the consistently unpleasant outcomes of most street demonstrations in Liberia if not all. Surely, historically, protests are synonymous to anarchy. But that rarity of peaceful mass protest in the country was overcome on July 17, sparking widespread commendations for the organizers and state security forces on guard. The Analyst’s H. Matthew Turry reports. 

What was widely feared to be a catastrophe hanging over Liberia, turned out otherwise, as the July 17 “Enough is enough” was generally peaceful yesterday, Thursday, 17 July 2025 when thousands of citizens gathered to petition their Government.

After a slow start at the 11^th hours, the July 17 “Enough is Enough” protesters arrived at the protest venue, the Capitol Hill, trooping from the  Tubman Boulevard, where Mulbah K. Morlu, Chairman of the Solidarity and Trust for A New Day (STAND), flanked by former Representative Acarous Moses Gray, led streams of sizable parade marching toward Capitol Hill.

The protest which demands are rooted in grievances of corruption, poverty, and poor services was organized by the Solidarity Trust for a New Day (STAND), backed by the biggest opposition party, former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Youth League, as well as student groups, and motorcyclists. It brought together Liberians demanding urgent government action on corruption, unemployment, poor infrastructure, and a rising cost of living.

The protesters also rode on floaters chanting anti-government slogans and carrying large banners with some inscriptions, “Enough is Enough’, ‘Our hospitals has no drugs, but Boakai is flying private jet,’ and ‘Lead or Leave’, amongst others.

The protest was organized and promoted for three months, and was expected by many Liberians to have caused instability or lead to the destruction of lives and properties. But to the contrary, the protesters conducted themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner, not talking to anyone and touching anything.

The Liberia National Police acted professionally, ensuring that law and order was obeyed and that both protesters and non-protesters were protected.

Following the arrival of Senator Momo Cyrus Chair on National Security who was mandated to receive the petition, the organizers of the July 17 “Enough is Enough” demanded that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai or Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung must personally receive their petition, or it would not be delivered to anyone else.

The lead organizer of the protest, Mulbah K. Morlu, said no other representative from the Liberian Legislature would be accepted, particularly from the Richard Nagbe Koon-led House of Representatives, whom he labelled as “corrupt” and a “regime speaker.”

“He is a regime speaker and reckless to receive our petition,” Morlu said. “If Jeremiah Koung or the President cannot come to receive the petition containing the plights of the people, Koon or any other member of the legislature, cannot receive it,” Morlu said.

Before the formal reading of the petition, Morlu told journalists that accepting any intermediary or lower-level official to receive the protesters’ demands would be seen as a sign of disrespect.

“If President Boakai cannot come, we will only accept a reputable, high-ranking official from his office. Anything short of that, we will return home, re-strategize, and come back even stronger,” he warned.

One of the female protesters identified as Elizabeth speak to journalists by saying, “The people are tired of suffering while officials enrich themselves, and this is not just a demonstration, it’s a warning.”

She highlighted a broad range of grievances, including alleged police brutality, rising economic hardship, corruption in government and political witch hunts targeting opposition figures.

One major incident cited by protesters is the alleged manhandling of CDC National Chairman Janga Kowo by police, shortly after the jailing of former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa – events they say signal a coordinated effort to silence dissent.