MONROVIA, Liberia – The July 17 Protest Coalition has issued a public safety advisory ahead of Thursday’s planned nationwide demonstration, urging participants to remain peaceful, disciplined, and vigilant amid concerns that individuals may attempt to disrupt the protest.
In a statement signed by the Coalition’s Secretary General, Togar Alexander Bealded, the organization commended Liberians preparing to participate in what it described as a “historic” peaceful protest while calling on citizens not to be intimidated by any attempts to discourage or provoke them.
“We march not with violence, but with the unshakable strength of justice, the discipline of a determined people, and the moral authority of citizens demanding accountability, good governance, and respect for the rule of law,” the statement said.
The Coalition said the success of the protest would be measured by the discipline, unity, and peaceful conduct of demonstrators rather than confrontation or disorder.
As part of its advisory, the Coalition encouraged participants to remain peaceful at all times, reject any attempts to incite violence, vandalism, looting, or confrontations with security forces, and promptly report suspicious activities to designated protest marshals or Coalition officials.
The statement also encouraged participants, where safe and lawful, to document suspicious incidents through photographs or videos and cooperate with independent observers, accredited journalists, and human rights monitors. Protesters were further advised to follow only official instructions issued by the Coalition’s leadership and authorized marshals while disregarding misinformation or directives from unauthorized individuals.
The Coalition also appealed to the Liberia National Police and other state security institutions to uphold citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and expression. It called on security personnel to exercise professionalism, impartiality, and restraint while taking lawful action against anyone attempting to provoke violence or disrupt public order.
According to the Coalition, the July 17 protest is intended as a peaceful constitutional exercise aimed at demanding accountability, justice, and good governance. It emphasized that the demonstration is not intended to promote violence or confrontation but to provide citizens with an opportunity to lawfully express their democratic concerns.
The statement concluded by urging Liberians to participate peacefully and responsibly, expressing confidence that a disciplined and orderly demonstration would reinforce democratic values and strengthen the country’s commitment to constitutional governance.
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