By By: Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia – The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has sharply rejected the inclusion of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) in a Justice Ministry–organized security dialogue ahead of its planned December 17 “Lead or Leave” protest, accusing the council’s current leadership of being morally compromised and politically tainted.
The controversy stems from a November 3, 2025, letter from the Ministry of Justice, inviting STAND’s Chairman, Mulbah K. Morlu Jr., to a roundtable discussion with the Justice Ministry and the Liberia National Police. The meeting, according to the ministry, is intended to plan security coordination and ensure a peaceful atmosphere before the upcoming demonstration.
In the letter signed by Col. Wilson W. Boe Sr., Coordinator for Joint Security, the ministry commended STAND for the peaceful and orderly conduct of its previous protest in July 2025 and extended appreciation to the Liberia National Police and the general public for maintaining calm during that event.
However, the invitation also indicated that the Liberia Council of Churches would be part of the discussion — a decision that immediately triggered strong opposition from STAND.
In a fiery statement posted Tuesday on its official Facebook page, the pro-democracy movement declared it would boycott the meeting if the current LCC leadership attends, describing them as “corrupt leaders who have betrayed the pulpit and sold their conscience for power.”
According to STAND, Liberia’s quest for justice and reform must not be diluted by what it called “religious opportunists who bless oppression and call it peace.” The group vowed to resist any attempt to use faith-based institutions as moral cover for political wrongdoing, insisting that the current church leadership has lost public trust through “silence, bias, and unethical alliances with power.”
While acknowledging receipt of the ministry’s letter, STAND said it remains open to peaceful dialogue with state authorities, but only under conditions of fairness, neutrality, and integrity.
“The people’s movement cannot share the table with those who legitimize corruption and injustice,” the statement emphasized. “Liberia deserves true prophets, not ‘holy hustlers’ pretending to speak for God while serving the regime.”
The group’s statement comes amid heightened political tension ahead of the “Lead or Leave” protest, which STAND says will demand accountability, transparency, and respect for democratic values. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to nonviolence and civic discipline, even as it criticized the government for allegedly manipulating religious leaders to weaken citizen advocacy.
The December protest, according to organizers, will serve as a defining moment for public resistance against poor governance. STAND says it will not retreat from its mission to awaken civic consciousness and pressure the government to act in the people’s interest.
“Lead or Leave – Enough is Enough,” the movement reiterated in its post. “No retreat, no surrender.”
The group concluded by announcing that its official correspondence to the Ministry of Justice, outlining its position, has been made public in the comment section of its Facebook post for transparency and public review.
