An elderly woman, believed to be in her 60s, stood quietly among the crowd in Monrovia on Thursday, holding a placard that read: “Stop Killing Our Children.” Her silent message echoed loudly through the streets and captured the raw emotion fueling the July 17 protest.
Thousands of Liberians took to the streets demanding an end to worsening economic hardship, police brutality, and what they say is a continued erosion of the rule of law. The mass demonstration drew people from all walks of life, including students, workers, market women, and the unemployed — all united by a shared frustration with the state of the nation.
While the protest remained largely peaceful, opinions on its legitimacy were divided.
Our reporter, Emmanuel Kangar, interviewed several protesters and passersby near the Capitol Hill area.
Aloysius, a protester dressed in a black shirt, said the demonstration was both timely and essential.
“The hardship in this country is too much. There are no jobs for us. I believe this protest is necessary to push the government to do more for its people,” he said.
But not everyone agreed.
Morris, a passerby walking toward the University of Liberia Capitol Hill Campus, criticized the protest as being politically driven.
“Morlu, who is here protesting today, had the chance when they were in power but did nothing. Now they’re out here making noise. This protest is politically motivated,” he said.
Despite the mixed reactions, the July 17 protest laid bare the growing tension between citizens and the state — and the urgent demand for change.
