MONROVIA — Mulbah K. Morlu, national chairperson of Solidarity for a New Day (STAND), says his political group is mobilizing at least 100,000 people for a nationwide protest on July 17 against what he described as widespread human rights abuses under President Joseph Boakai’s administration.
Speaking Saturday to residents of the Stockton Creek community in Monrovia, Morlu specifically called on victims of alleged land grabs carried out through court orders to join the demonstration. He accused the Unity Party-led government of using the judiciary as a tool to dispossess citizens of their land.
“We will not allow our people to suffer in silence while their land is taken from them under the guise of legal orders,” Morlu said. “On July 17, we will take to the streets in numbers President Boakai cannot ignore.”
According to Morlu, the protest will culminate with the presentation of a formal petition to the President. He insisted that demonstrators will not disperse until Boakai receives the document in person.
“If the President refuses to come out and receive our petition, we will not leave,” he said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.
Morlu pledged his support to the Stockton Creek community, promising to stand with residents in any future eviction attempts and urging them to alert him immediately if police or court officials return.
The STAND chair also used the occasion to call for the unconditional release of lawmakers currently detained at Monrovia Central Prison, although he did not name the specific legislators or charges.
“We will not sit by and allow ourselves to be violated by the Boakai government,” Morlu said.
The July 17 protest is expected to be one of the largest mass mobilizations since President Boakai took office in January. Authorities have not yet commented on STAND’s plans or its legal implications.
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