The highly anticipated “Nonstop Capitol Lockdown” protest, spearheaded by the Concerned Citizens Movement for the Protection of Constitution and Rule of Law, spiraled into violence on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The demonstration, which aimed to pressure the Boakai-led administration to uphold constitutional order, turned chaotic as protesters clashed with officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) near the Capitol Building in Monrovia.
Led by Representatives Frank Saah Foko of District 9 and Yekeh Kulubah of District 10, the protesters attempted to push through police barricades at the main entrance of the Capitol, which also houses the Executive Mansion and Temple of Justice. The standoff escalated when demonstrators breached the barricades, prompting a forceful response from law enforcement.
The resulting disorder led to widespread panic, with many protesters fleeing toward the Jallah’s Town belt. Amid the clashes, an LNP officer was severely beaten, and their firearm was reportedly taken during the melee. Police sources confirm that the injured officer is currently receiving treatment at a health facility in downtown Monrovia. Although calm was later restored, the chaos underscored rising tensions between citizens and the government.
Janjay Baikpah, Chairperson of the Concerned Citizens Movement, addressed reporters, framing the protest—dubbed “White Tuesday: A Day for Justice and Action”—as a peaceful initiative to demand justice and accountability. According to Baikpah, the movement sought to rally Liberians to resist what he described as unconstitutional attempts by President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung to remove Speaker Fonati Koffa from office.
“This administration has spent over $5 million on schemes to destabilize the legislature and seize control of the first branch of government,” Baikpah alleged. He further accused the Boakai-Koung government of anti-democratic actions that undermine Liberia’s fragile peace and constitutional governance.
The protest comes amid growing public discontent over Liberia’s worsening economic and social conditions. Baikpah highlighted rising unemployment, police brutality, ritualistic killings, and rampant corruption as evidence of the administration’s inability to lead effectively. “While ordinary Liberians face poverty and hunger, government officials are living lavishly, flaunting their wealth with swimming pools and other luxuries,” he stated, singling out the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) as an example of excess amidst national hardship.
Baikpah emphasized that the demonstration was anchored in Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, citing Articles 1 and 17, which grant citizens the right to peacefully assemble and petition the government for redress. He urged protesters to wear white as a symbol of solidarity and peace, despite the earlier outbreak of violence.
Organizers had arranged for volunteers to provide transportation, food, and water to participants throughout Montserrado County, with plans for similar demonstrations in other parts of the country. “This is the time for all Liberians to unite and demand a government that respects the rule of law. Today marks the beginning of a historic movement,” Baikpah declared.
As the Boakai administration faces mounting pressure, political observers note that the ongoing protests reflect deepening divisions between the executive and legislative branches. Analysts caution that unless meaningful dialogue occurs, Liberia’s democracy could be at risk.
While the immediate outcome of the “Nonstop Capitol Lockdown” remains uncertain, the protest has sent a clear message: Liberians are determined to hold their leaders accountable and demand better governance.
