MONROVIA – The Liberia National Police (LNP) statement on its official Facebook page and by signed DCP Cecelia G. Clarke, LNP spokesperson, says, it unequivocally denounces the misleading and unfounded statements made by Mulbah Morlu during his live broadcast earlier today, July 16, 2025.
In the broadcast, Morlu called on motorcyclists to join the planned protest with their bikes, falsely claiming that the LNP had agreed to permit motorcycles during the event and that police checkpoints would be suspended.
The LNP in its statement wishes to make it emphatically clear that no such meeting took place and no such commitment was ever made. “Morlu’s statement is a deliberate distortion of facts intended to sow confusion and disorder. He is widely known as a pathological liar, and his latest claims should be treated with absolute skepticism by all members of the public.”
“Motorcyclists and citizens are therefore advised to disregard Mr. Morlu’s broadcast in its entirety, as it poses a serious risk to public safety and may lead individuals to violate existing laws and security protocols. His misinformation is dangerous and undermines efforts to safeguard public peace.”
Meanwhile, and in keeping with its duty to maintain public safety and order, the LNP has officially released the designated protest route along with clearly defined access restrictions. These directives will be strictly enforced throughout the duration of the protest.
Restricted Areas – No Entry Permitted:
- Road from the Executive Mansion to the Capitol Building
- Road leading toward Buzzy Quarter
These zones will be actively monitored. Anyone found within these restricted areas, especially motorcyclists, will face legal consequences, including impoundment of motorcycles under existing laws.
Approved Protest Route – Open for Assembly:
- Starting Point: City Hall
- Route: Main Tubman Boulevard
- Passing: University of Liberia (UL)
- Ending At: Road leading to LNP Headquarters
Police personnel will be strategically deployed along this corridor to observe, secure, and facilitate peaceful protest conduct. No motorcycles will be permitted along the protest route or in restricted zones. Violators will be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Concluding its statement, the Liberia National Police says it remains fully prepared to safeguard all citizens, uphold national law, and preserve public order. We thank the public for its cooperation and continued commitment to peace.
In a related development, cross section of Liberians calling on various radio talk shows on early Thursday, July 17, 2025, have chastised former opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) chairman Mulbah Morlu and chairman of the ‘civil society’ group STAND for misleading motorcyclists to ply principal streets and roads that had previously been designated by the Liberia National Police as ‘no-go-zone’ for motorcyclists for safety purposes.
The callers speaking on various radio stations on Monday morning termed Mr. Morlu’s misinformation and disinformation to motorcyclists as ‘ill-intentioned, devilish, selfish, hypocritical and harmful’ to the wellbeing motorcyclists who have to run their bikes to feed their families on a daily basis.
Some of the callers decried the former CDC chairman and STAND executive director’s motives for calling on motorcyclists to join the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest by violating traffic restrictions which have been respected for months by the motorcyclists. The callers further stated that Mr. Morlu wants to use the motorcyclists to populate his protesters to signal to the government that they support his objective.
On the other hands, other callers said the STAND executive director and former CDC Chairman is using the protest to gain political relevance for the 2029 elections but his party, the former governing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led the country for six years, only friends of President Weah and select CDC party hierarchy and supporters benefitted from the government.
STAND declares July 17 ‘Day of the People,’ plans nationwide protest to demand urgent reforms
In can be recalled in April of this year, 2025, STAND announced a nationwide mass protest for Thursday, July 17, 2025, declaring it “THE DAY OF THE PEOPLE” — a bold and defiant response to what the group calls Liberia’s deepening crisis of corruption, economic collapse, and government failure, under the rallying cry: “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.”
The announcement was made during a mass citizen gathering at STAND’s national headquarters in Congo Town, where thousands of Liberians — including students, market women, farmers, health workers, civil servants, religious leaders, and commercial transport operators — converged to present a sweeping Resolution of the People. The resolution charged STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu to lead what they described as a peaceful but unyielding people’s uprising.
Without hesitation, Morlu accepted the people’s mandate and declared July 17 as “THE DAY OF THE PEOPLE”, pledging to lead a protest movement aimed at forcing urgent reforms across the country.
“We will go to every town, every city, every district and village,” Morlu said. “And not less than 30,000 Liberians will take to the streets peacefully. This is more than a protest. This is a movement to reclaim our democracy and restore dignity to public service.”
He said the protest would focus on skyrocketing living costs, stagnant civil servant wages, rising lawlessness, healthcare collapse, and what STAND described as “a culture of impunity and political intimidation” under the Boakai-led administration.
Morlu also unveiled a nationwide mobilization campaign, promising to build grassroots momentum in all 15 counties to ensure maximum turnout and unity of purpose. According to him, the July 17 protest marks a turning point in Liberia’s democratic evolution.
“This movement will not be hijacked by any political agenda,” Morlu stressed. “It is the people themselves—students, market sellers, health workers, bike riders—who are rising up to say: enough is enough.”
The protest’s core demands were detailed in a 10-point resolution adopted by the people and endorsed by STAND. Among them are:
• A minimum wage of US$500 for all civil servants to address unbearable living conditions.
• A complete overhaul of the healthcare system to prevent avoidable deaths due to government neglect.
• An end to restrictions on motorbike and kehkeh operators, who organizers say are being unfairly targeted.
• The reversal of politically motivated dismissals in the civil service.
• Restoration of constitutional order and tenure protections, particularly after what they call the illegal removal of the Speaker of the House.
• Dismissal of Police Director Gregory Coleman and Deputy Director Nelson Freeman, following unresolved incidents of police brutality and disappearances, including the Kinjor killings.
• Compensation for victims of forced evictions, especially those displaced under questionable development projects.
• Full prosecution of corrupt officials and a comprehensive audit of concession agreements with foreign companies.
• Development and transparency for concession-affected communities, such as those impacted by Bea Mountain.
• A call for a national referendum to reduce the tenure of lawmakers and the presidency, as part of broader democratic reforms.
The resolution, adopted April 19 and titled “WE THE PEOPLE”, brands the protest not merely as an expression of discontent, but as a nationwide awakening and civic renewal. It affirms that July 17 will serve as a day of peaceful mobilization across Monrovia and major cities.
Meanwhile for many Liberians and political pundits, the moment carries echoes of past civic movements that shifted national direction. STAND’s organizers believe this protest could spark another such turning point — one driven from the ground up by the collective will of an exhausted but determined people.
July 17, 2025 is finally hear, there are reports of calm and peaceful activities thus far throughout the country with no report of people gathering in streets or public places to begin the protest. Whether this protest will force real change or provoke confrontation remains to be seen. But for now, one thing is clear: the country is calm and peaceful on this July 17, 2025.
