As the July 17 “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” protest draws closer, tensions escalate between organizers and Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman over allegations of planned violence.
Civil society movement STAND vehemently denounces Coleman’s unsubstantiated claims of illegal weapons at the protest, branding them as a dangerous attempt to criminalize peaceful dissent and justify state violence.
Accusations of lies and deception from both sides fuel a charged atmosphere, with STAND asserting its constitutional right to demonstrate while warning of possible infiltration and sabotage by regime operatives.
See full text of statement below
STAND Condemns Gregory Coleman’s Dangerous Threats and Lies; Declares: No Permit Needed to Protest in Defense of Freedom!
Liberia’s leading and unwavering civil society movement, STAND, strongly condemns the irresponsible and dangerous remarks made by Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman.
In a blatant abuse of authority, Mr. Coleman falsely accused organizers of the July 17 “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH” protest of planning to mobilize and deploy illegal weapons—an outrageous and baseless claim, entirely unsupported by evidence.
These inflammatory statements, disguised as security concerns, are nothing less than an attempt to criminalize peaceful dissent, stoke fear, and justify potential state-sponsored violence against law-abiding citizens. STAND categorically rejects these fabrications and warns that any effort to disrupt, delegitimize, or provoke violence against this peaceful protest will be met with firm, lawful, and unyielding resistance by the Liberian people.
The Truth About Notification
Inspector General Coleman’s assertion that protest organizers failed to notify the Ministry of Justice is a deliberate lie. On July 4, 2025, STAND formally submitted written notice to the Ministry of Justice in full compliance with Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution. That communication was also distributed to national media outlets to ensure transparency.
Coleman’s false claim exposes a pattern of dishonesty and bad faith, and raises serious concerns about his fitness to lead the Liberia National Police. Rather than serving the Liberian people, he is now functioning as a political enforcer, weaponizing state power to undermine a constitutionally protected civic movement.
A Dangerous Agenda
Beyond his false statements, credible reports have emerged of a coordinated campaign by elements within the state to plant drugs, hire agents provocateurs—including professional prostitutes—and stage entrapments aimed at framing organizers of the July 17 protest.
These desperate tactics point to a more sinister agenda: criminalizing dissent, suppressing expression, and dismantling lawful resistance to corruption and impunity.
STAND condemns these dirty tricks in the strongest possible terms and alerts the Liberian public and international partners: this is not mere rhetoric—this is a credible threat to civil liberties and democratic order.
“Weapons at Protest” Claim: No Proof, Just Scare Tactics
Mr. Coleman’s reckless insinuation that protesters may carry illegal weapons is not only false, but deeply defamatory. STAND and its partners have no history of violence. No credible security report supports this baseless claim.
These statements appear to be a pretext—carefully planted to justify a violent police crackdown. STAND views this with grave concern and warns that the real danger lies in the possibility of regime operatives infiltrating the protest to plant weapons and trigger chaos, providing the regime with manufactured justification for state brutality.
A Warning to the Liberia National Police
STAND issues a clear and unequivocal warning: if any government official, security operative, or political agent attempts to infiltrate the protest, plant evidence, or stage acts of sabotage, STAND and its nationwide citizens’ network reserve the constitutional right to execute a lawful citizen’s arrest.
This applies to any individual—regardless of rank—who commits a crime against peaceful protesters. Police Director Gregory Coleman will not be exempt if he crosses that line.
This Protest Is Lawful and Unstoppable
STAND reaffirms that the July 17 protest is peaceful, lawful, and irreversible. No intimidation, disinformation, or political coercion will halt this constitutionally protected movement. This protest is not a request—it is a righteous uprising against corruption, impunity, and the systematic collapse of constitutional governance under President Joseph Boakai.
We are not asking permission to be free. We are exercising our right to resist.
No Compromise with Tyranny
To those entertaining the illusion of compromised negotiations or backdoor deals, let us be clear: we will never trade away our constitutional rights, nor will we kneel before repression. We will not pause. We will not retreat.
And we will not be silenced—not while this regime continues to violate the law and abuse the people it swore to serve.
We protest because we must—to defend our democracy, restore our dignity, and secure the future of a free and sovereign Liberia.
