Armed police troop have been frequenting the headquarters of a group leading the planned nationwide protests that would commence on the heels of the country’s 178th independence anniversary.
Police authorities Saturday deployed armed men around the offices of the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) in Monrovia’s Tubman Boulevard,
Days after political activist Mulbah Morlu who is leading mobilization efforts for the demonstration reported surviving assassination attempt.
The heavy police presence is raising alarm among members of the civil society organization and igniting accusations of state intimidation.
The situation has intensified following reports of multiple assassination attempts on STAND Chairman Mulbah Morlu, who has called the police actions a “baseless show of force” aimed at suppressing the planned peaceful protest on July 17. 
On May 8, 2025, the WE THE PEOPLE Movement, a coalition that includes various pro-democracy groups, issued a statement detailing two alleged assassination attempts against Morlu.
STAND officials described the attacks as politically motivated, purportedly involved trailing vehicles and aggressive tactics consistent with state-sponsored operations.
Despite these serious allegations, the Boakai administration has not publicly addressed the incidents, leading to fears of complicity within the government.
Morlu on Saturday expressed his outrage on social media after observing “an alarming and provocative escalation” with the police’s unexpected arrival at the STAND offices.
Describing the situation as a deliberate attempt to instill fear among activists, he stated: “This is not law enforcement. It is naked provocation. Let them come with batons, bullets, or brute force. The July Revolution cannot be stopped.”
In a message directed at President Boakai, Morlu noted, “We will never kneel to this desperate regime and its brutal police machinery.”
He urged the media to investigate the situation, calling on local community members and traders as witnesses to what he termed a “disgraceful display” of state threat.
While police officials denied any targeted operations against Morlu or STAND, asserting that their presence was linked to enforcing no-go-zone restrictions on motorcyclists, the heavy deployment of armed officers has only deepened suspicions of political repression.
As tensions simmer ahead of the July 17 protest, which aims to mobilize resistance against alleged state tyranny, many observers are worried about the implications for civil liberties in Liberia.
“We are peaceful, but we are not cowards. We are ready for their bullets, but we will never surrender to a failed autocrat who only finds courage hiding behind guns and uniforms,” Morlu declared.
Supporters of STAND are calling for the international community to monitor the situation closely, as fears rise that the atmosphere of intimidation could lead to violent confrontations during the upcoming protest.
