The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has officially acknowledged the receipt of a powerful open letter from renowned Liberian human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate, Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe. The letter, which includes a reprinted copy of Albert Porte’s seminal 1979 article The Day Monrovia Stood Still, calls attention to the persistent dangers of unchecked government power in Liberia.
Cllr. Gongloe described the article—originally published in the wake of the April 14, 1979, “rice riot”—as a timeless caution against “the arrogance of power,” warning that such governance remains a threat to peace and social stability.
“The failure of reason to prevail at crucial moments in Liberia remains persistent,” Gongloe stated, drawing historical parallels between past and present leadership behavior. He emphasized that the government’s refusal to engage in constructive dialogue ahead of the 1979 protest ~ led by the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) under Gabriel Baccus Matthews ~ led to tragic consequences, including widespread destruction and loss of life.
In his response, PUL President Julius Kanubah praised Gongloe’s initiative, calling the release and dissemination of the article a significant contribution to national reflection.
“Cllr. Gongloe is helping us confront our history, and in doing so, he’s promoting a path forward rooted in accountability, dialogue, and democratic ideals,” Kanubah said.
To ensure the article’s accessibility to both journalists and the wider public, the PUL has published the full text of The Day Monrovia Stood Still on its official bulletin board. The move is part of a broader effort to inspire public discourse on the historical and ongoing implications of power dynamics in Liberia.
The April 1979 protest was sparked by a government proposal to increase the price of rice ~ Liberia’s staple food ~ and its controversial imposition of permit requirements for peaceful assemblies. Despite constitutional protections for free speech and assembly, the protest was met with a violent government crackdown.
Cllr. Gongloe’s efforts align with his long-standing advocacy for press freedom and civic engagement. He recently served as a panellist during the 2025 World Press Freedom Day observance hosted by the PUL, where he spoke on the theme, “Sustaining Independent Journalism and Press Freedom in the Digital Age.” During the panel, he stressed the journalist’s role in shaping a just society through public education and truth-telling.
“By informing the public about commendable actions that contribute to national development and exposing those that hinder it, journalists promote peace, progress, and prosperity grounded in the rule of law,” Gongloe said in his letter.
The PUL reiterated its solidarity with Gongloe’s message and encouraged the public, particularly members of the media, to reflect on the lessons of Liberia’s past as a guide for building a more democratic and inclusive future.
