Monrovia, Liberia — The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), a prominent Liberian civil rights and accountability movement, has issued a strongly worded statement condemning what it describes as widespread human rights abuses, selective justice, police brutality, and a growing climate of fear and lawlessness under the administration of President Joseph Boakai.
In the statement, STAND announced the continuation of its resistance campaign and vowed to intensify pressure on the government, accusing state authorities of normalizing impunity, shielding alleged perpetrators of rape, weaponizing the Liberia National Police (LNP) against peaceful citizens, and presiding over worsening economic conditions while senior officials enjoy what the group called “extravagant excesses.”
According to STAND, Liberia is experiencing a dangerous erosion of the rule of law, civic freedoms, and institutional accountability, in violation of both national legislation and international human rights obligations.
Allegations of Selective Justice
A central focus of the statement is the LNP’s handling of sexual violence cases. STAND criticized police authorities for clearing an alleged rape suspect, J. Bryant McGill, based on what they described as purported DNA evidence, while other suspects accused of similar offenses are routinely arrested and prosecuted without such forensic analysis.
While reiterating its support for the arrest and prosecution of anyone credibly accused of sexual violence, including a recent sodomy case involving a minor, STAND condemned what it called the discriminatory application of evidentiary standards that favors politically connected individuals.
The group argued that police authorities have no constitutional mandate to determine guilt or innocence, warning that such actions undermine due process and public confidence in the justice system. It further stated that administrative declarations cannot erase the trauma suffered by a 14-year-old alleged victim, noting that justice delayed or denied in sexual violence cases amounts to secondary victimization and state complicity.
Police Brutality and Suppression of Protest
STAND also denounced what it described as the violent repression of peaceful protests, citing the use of tear gas, arbitrary arrests, excessive force, and fabricated charges against demonstrators exercising their constitutional rights.
The organization accused authorities of selectively enforcing public order laws while ignoring violence by pro-government counter-protesters, and warned that the alleged deployment of civilian provocateurs to disrupt civil society activities represents a dangerous escalation of state-sponsored intimidation.
UCalls for Accountability and Reform
Citing what it described as a consistent pattern of selective justice, protection of alleged rapists, and violent suppression of dissent, STAND declared the current police leadership morally compromised and unfit to serve a democratic society. The group called for accountability and comprehensive security sector reform to restore professionalism, neutrality, and public trust in the police.
Foreign Policy Concerns
Beyond domestic issues, STAND expressed concern over Liberia’s diplomatic alignment with Venezuela, describing the country’s leadership as authoritarian and accusing it of election manipulation and repression. The group argued that such alignment contradicts Liberia’s historical commitment to democratic norms and its longstanding partnerships with democratic allies.
Declaration of Civil Disobedience
STAND characterized the current situation as a “multi-dimensional war” against the Liberian people, encompassing economic hardship, healthcare neglect, police brutality, and a justice system that allegedly silences rape survivors while protecting perpetrators.
After nearly two years of advocacy and two peaceful mass protests held on July 17 and December 17, the group said the government has failed to engage with public grievances and has instead intensified repression. As a result, STAND announced the commencement of sustained civil disobedience, which it said would remain peaceful, lawful, and grounded in moral resistance until its demands are meaningfully addressed.
Appeal to the International Community
The organization also called on international donors, diplomatic missions, and human rights bodies to increase monitoring and pressure on the Liberian government. STAND urged targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for gross human rights violations, stressing that any sanctions should be precise and not harm the broader population.
In closing, STAND appealed to Liberians to remain peaceful and resolute in what it described as a struggle for justice, dignity, and accountable governance.
“The struggle continues,” the statement concluded. “Justice is non-negotiable. Resistance remains a moral duty.”
