MONROVIA — The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has condemned the disruption of a peaceful protest organized by the Student Unification Party (SUP) of the University of Liberia, calling the police response a violent and unjustifiable assault on civil liberties. The demonstration, held under the banner “Jobs and Justice,” was a lawful and constitutionally protected exercise of democratic expression, STAND said in a statement issued Tuesday.
The group accused the Liberia National Police (LNP) of deploying tear gas against unarmed students, brutalizing peaceful protesters, and carrying out arbitrary arrests, which it described as a gross abuse of state power and a dangerous erosion of the rule of law.
According to the STAND statement issued on Tuesday, credible reports indicate that the LNP forcefully dispersed the protest, subjecting students to tear gas and physical harm. Several protesters, including Mr. Foday Massaquoi, are said to have been arrested and remain in detention. STAND also noted reports of continued efforts to track, intimidate, and harass participants for exercising their constitutional rights. The group rejected the authorities’ justification that the protest lacked a permit, calling it a deliberate and dangerous distortion of the law.
STAND cited the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, which guarantees every citizen the right to assemble peacefully and consult upon the common good, stating that this right is not subject to discretionary state approval. The group argued that SUP was under no legal obligation to obtain a permit and that any attempt to criminalize peaceful assembly under such pretenses is an attack on constitutional democracy and a betrayal of Liberia’s hard-won freedoms.
STAND condemned the conduct of the Liberia National Police as arbitrary, repressive, and calculated to instill fear and suppress legitimate dissent. The group said the alleged use of excessive force against unarmed students reflects a troubling pattern of intolerance toward peaceful protest and stands in direct contradiction to Liberia’s democratic commitments and its obligations under international human rights law.
STAND demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detained protesters, including Mr. Foday Massaquoi. The group also called for an immediate halt to all forms of harassment, intimidation, and persecution directed at students and citizens who participated in the peaceful demonstration.
STAND pledged to mobilize competent legal representation to secure the swift release of all detained students and to vigorously defend their constitutional rights. The group said it remains firm and unyielding in its duty to protect civil liberties and uphold the supremacy of the rule of law.
STAND warned that the continued repression of peaceful dissent will inflict serious damage on Liberia’s democratic foundations and further erode public confidence in state institutions. The group described such conduct as a dangerous escalation and a clear democratic red line, adding that no amount of intimidation will silence the people but will instead strengthen lawful, peaceful, and determined resistance in defense of freedom and constitutional order.
STAND called on the Government of Liberia, civil society, the international community, and all defenders of democracy to demand full accountability and ensure that justice is not delayed or denied. The group stated that the voices of Liberia’s students must not be suppressed but protected, respected, and heard.
