MONROVIA – Grassroots advocacy group Solidarity and Trust for A New Day (STAND) has confirmed its determination to hold a major protest on December 17, marching along the route connecting the Executive Mansion and the Capitol Building, despite warnings of potential resistance from state security forces.
Speaking at a press conference in Congo Town on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, STAND’s National Chairman Mulbah Morlu stated emphatically that no amount of negotiation, intimidation, or force would deter participants from assembling. “The property of the Liberian people belongs to the people,” Morlu said, adding that threats involving hot water tanks or bullets would not stop the planned demonstration.
Morlu justified the decision by referencing previous protests that were allowed along the same route, including a recent demonstration against the proliferation of dangerous substances. He argued that STAND’s movement should receive the same treatment and not be prevented from exercising its constitutional rights to assembly and free expression.
The protest, officially codenamed “Lead or Leave – Enough Is Enough,” is set to continue until President Joseph Boakai personally addresses the group’s demands. Morlu insisted that the venue for the December 17 protest will not be changed under any circumstances, in contrast to the July 17 protest, which took place between the Capitol Building and the University of Liberia campus.
Morlu emphasized that STAND’s objective is a peaceful demonstration and that the organization will resist any attempt to divert participants from the designated route. He called on Liberians to understand that the protest is a civic exercise aimed at holding government accountable, not a disruption of public order.
The announcement has already drawn attention from both government officials and civil society observers. Some analysts predict heightened tensions between the demonstrators and security personnel, particularly given the high-profile location of the protest. Morlu, however, expressed confidence that participants would maintain discipline and that STAND would avoid confrontations with law enforcement.
The group’s leadership stressed that the protest is part of a broader movement to demand accountability and responsive governance from the current administration. Morlu argued that citizens have a right to peacefully demand action on issues affecting their daily lives, and that STAND’s demonstration is intended to highlight critical gaps in leadership and public service delivery.
STAND has called on other civil society organizations and members of the public to join the December 17 protest, describing it as a unifying moment for Liberians who are frustrated with delays in governance and unfulfilled political promises. Morlu reiterated that participation in the protest is a patriotic duty and a constitutional right that must be exercised responsibly.
