Liberia: Police Arrest STAND Protester as Demonstrators Defy Orders, Insist on “Cooking at the Executive Mansion” - FrontPageAfrica

Monrovia — The Liberia National Police (LNP) on Wednesday arrested an affiliate of the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) during protest activities near the Executive Mansion, sparking accusations of profiling and selective enforcement by demonstrators.

By Jaheim T. Tumu | jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com

The arrested protester, whose identity was not immediately disclosed, claimed he was acting within the law and complying with police instructions at the time of his arrest.

“I was arrested when they gave me instruction,” the protester said, insisting he was following police directives and was merely attempting to rejoin his group.

According to him, he and several others were moving toward STAND Executive Director Mulbah Morlu to meet fellow demonstrators participating in the “Boakai Lead or Leave” protest when police intervened.

He rejected allegations of defiance or disorderly conduct, stating, “We are not violators.” The protester suggested his arrest may have been influenced by his leadership role within the movement.

“Perhaps we have been profiled,” he said, noting that he serves as a co-leader of one of STAND’s auxiliary groups.

Despite being restrained, the protester continued to assert that he acted lawfully throughout the encounter, emphasizing that he was “going by the instruction” provided by police.

Meanwhile, several STAND protesters were seen carrying cooking utensils and food items, including rice, pots and coal pots, signaling their intention to cook near the Executive Mansion as part of the protest.

One protester, who declined to be identified, said the group posed no threat to public order or security.

“We are not going to fight the police. We are going to cook at the Mansion,” the protester said. “If they say no, we will cook right outside.”

He described the act as a symbolic protest highlighting citizenship and economic hardship.

“We are citizens of this country; we have the right to cook at the Mansion because we are hungry,” he said. “It is not a kitchen, but we will cook there.”

The protester further rejected the notion that the Executive Mansion should be treated as a private residence.

“Is that President Boakai’s parents’ house? Is that Jeremiah Koung’s home?” he asked. “It belongs to Liberians. We will cook there.”

Another protester drew parallels with the June 7, 2019 demonstration organized by the Council of Patriots (COP) against former President George Weah.

“On June 7, 2019, the COP, led by political commentator Henry Costa—who was a strong supporter of then Vice President Joseph Boakai—organized a protest,” the protester recalled.

He noted that demonstrators at the time openly carried food items.

“COP protesters were seen with cooking utensils, rice, sausages and other food items, just like STAND protesters today,” he said, pointing to the visible presence of rice, cookpots, burners and other items.