The planned “White Tuesday” protest of December 17, 2024 turned chaotic as police were forced to exchange teargas with protesters who attempted to overrun the Capitol Building in Monrovia.
The protesters resulted in throwing stones at the Liberia National Police after being prevented from using the premises of the Executive Mansion to access the capitol building, but would soon regroup and make their way to the main route leading to the Mansion setting up roadblock.
The protesters were later seen jumping over the fence of the Capitol and made way across boundary lines setup by the police at the main entrance of the building.
The protesters, led by Representatives Saah Foko, Yekeh Kolubah and Eugene Kollie, were marching earlier on from Vamoma House to Capitol Building.
It can be recalled in a press conference Monday, December 16, 2024, the group’s chairperson, former Grand Bassa County Superintendent Janjay Baikpeh, said the planned demonstration, dubbed “White Tuesday,” will bring together thousands of concerned Liberians from diverse political, organizational and religious backgrounds.
He said the protest aims to compel President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration to immediately restore constitutional order at the House of Representatives.
Baikpeh said citizens would peacefully assemble on the grounds of the Capitol Building as part of their constitutional right to demand adherence to the rule of law across all sectors of the country.
Our reporter said the protesters gathered for the demonstration under the canopy of the “Concerned Citizens for the Protection of Our Constitution, Democracy, and the Rule of Law,” and seized the front of the University of Liberia (UL) where they took the mains road and stopping vehicular movements in the city.
The protesters chanted slogans suggesting a reminder to the government of its obligations to the Liberian people, calling for their country’s democracy to be protected and the constitution upheld at all costs.
It was in the middle of these events when the police asked the protesters to leave the roads and go in front of the university to allow the passage of vehicles but refused and started throwing stones at the officers.
The officers in return wasted no time and began excessively discharging weapons of tear-gas in an effort to disperse protesters who went haywire. Some of them were arrested in the process while others escaped including a staff from the office of embattled House of Representatives Speaker J. Fonati Koffa.
Several persons sustained wounds ranging from minor to more severe cuts during the standoff, and at one point in time, an elderly woman dropped unconscious and was lying flat on the ground during the firing of the tear gas before being rescued by a police officer.
Speaking with reporters, Inspector General of Liberia National Police Gregory Coleman said there was no use of live bullets on protesters as earlier news had gone wild on the social media, but said at least 70 protesters were arrested.
IG Coleman said protesters arrested will be investigated, charged and later forwarded to court to face prosecution for their alleged lawless acts displayed at the capitol.
Meanwhile, embattled Speaker J. Fonati Koffa in a Facebook post said, the right of citizens to peacefully assemble is cardinal and the use of force cannot be callous, adding that peace is better than war, because life is better than death.
By Tonita N. Copson
