Liberia: “December 17 Rally Unstoppable”

….. “The December 17 planned peaceful rally is a platform created by the CPP for Liberians to vent their frustration and dissatisfaction against the deteriorating economic conditions and extreme poverty in Liberia,” Lewis Brown said. 

The Collaborating Political Parties, CPP, says no degree of threats and intimidation by government sponsored “thugs” will stop its December 17 rally, which is intended to bring the government's attention to issues of bad governance.

The rally is planned outside the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville. However, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), has denied CPP the rights to the venue. The CPP comprises the opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) and the faction of the Liberty Party, loyal to its chairman, Musa Bility. 

The Ministry noted that the CPP request has not been granted and that the party should collect the amount initially paid for the venue from the person they arranged with.

But the CPP has said that the rally will hold and that nothing can stop them from achieving such a goal.

“The rally is intended for the suffering masses, and those injured by the failed and inept administration of President George Weah to amplify their demands for good governance and to end the worsening economic conditions in the country,” said Ambassador Lewis Brown.

Brown, who heads the 2023 Presidential Campaign Team of Alexander Cummings, has come under a heap of attacks and criticisms by public officials since he announced the planned peaceful rally, slated for December 17.

Brown was however attacked on December 5 by some unknown men who stoned his vehicle while leaving a radio station on Capitol bypass in Monrovia.

Brown said he is not perturbed by the attacks and acts of gangsterism by youths, whom he said are being misused and abused by public officials to “attain their failed agenda of threats and intimidation against politicians and citizens opposed to bad governance, corruption, and wasteful spending of public resources.”

He said the planned peaceful rally on December 17 goes beyond political parties and involves civil society, interest groups, religious groups, as well as ordinary Liberians who are disappointed and affected by the poor performance of President Weah's administration.

“The December 17 planned peaceful rally is a platform created by the CPP for Liberians to vent their frustration and dissatisfaction against the deteriorating economic conditions and extreme poverty in Liberia.”

If you are enjoying yourself, stay home. If you like the poor state of affairs, stay home. If you are scared, stay home. But if you are suffering and bearing more than you can carry, then the planned peaceful rally on December 17 is for you,” Brown said as he called on all Liberians, irrespective of political affiliations, to attend the rally.

The organizing committee assured Liberians that the December 17 rally will be peaceful and that the police are duty-bound by law to ensure maximum protection of its citizens.

“The organizing committee has met all basic requirements, including a formal letter to the Minister of Justice and payment to the ministry of youth and sports to use the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville for the planned peaceful rally,” the committee said.

Mr. Brown said what occurred on July 26, when peaceful citizens were attacked and brutalized by CDC thugs while protesting before the US Embassy in Monrovia, will never be repeated, as any attempt at such acts of gangsterism will be repelled.