Following the reburial of former President Samuel K. Doe in Grand Gedeh County, the Government of Liberia, led by President Joseph N. Boakai, will conduct a memorial event today, July 1, 2025, to honor late President William R. Tolbert Jr. and others who lost their lives during the 1980 coup.
As part of the lead-up to this event, President Boakai, along with other government officials, signed a book of condolences for the late president at the Centennial Pavilion in Monrovia. Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony, President Boakai urged all Liberians to look beyond historical divisions and embrace a unified national identity. He emphasized that Liberia should no longer be defined by the dichotomy of “Americo-Liberian” versus “Native Liberian.” “We are one Liberia. There is no Americo-Liberian or Native Liberian. There is only Liberia,” he stated.
Those being memorialized alongside the late president include the thirteen senior government officials executed following the 1980 coup, as well as other state and security officials who perished amid political violence. The names include Hon. Cyril A. Bright, Hon. C. Cecil Dennis, Hon. James A. A. Pierre, Hon. Richard A. Henries, Charles D. B. King, David Franklin Neal Sr., P. Clarence Parker III, Joseph J. F. Chesson Sr., James T. Phillips III, Frank J. Stewart, among others.
These men were brutally executed without the benefit of a trial, an act widely condemned as a gross violation of human rights and the rule of law. The Memorial Park aims to provide a sacred space for reflection, remembrance, and public education about this dark chapter in Liberian history.
Additionally, Cllr. Dr. Yvette Cherlson Wureh revealed that the ceremony is organized by the April 22nd Memorial Group, a collective of descendants, advocates, and historians dedicated to preserving the legacy of those lost and promoting national healing.
“The flagrant disregard for human rights, as our beloved fathers were denied legal representation and the right to appeal before being summarily executed, is something Liberians must never forget, nor should it ever be repeated,” Cllr. Dr. Wureh stated.
This initiative aligns with President Boakai’s broader reconciliation agenda. In February, he established a National Committee for the Dignified Reburial of Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel Kanyon Doe, chaired by Education Minister Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah.
The goal is not only to locate and reinter the remains of these former leaders but also to symbolically mend the nation’s political fractures. As anticipation builds for the July 1 memorial, Liberians across the country are encouraged to participate in what many are calling a landmark moment for collective memory and national unity. The attendance of government dignitaries and former presidents is expected to underscore the significance of the day.
