Historic Protest in Monrovia Features sign Language Interpreters for the First Time, as the Nation Grapples with Drug Addiction
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R. Joyclyn Wea
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Thousands of Liberians filled the streets of the capital on Thursday in an unprecedented march against drug trafficking and abuse, marking a significant moment not only for anti-drug activism but also for disability rights in the West African nation.
For the first time in Liberia's protest history, sign language interpreters accompanied protesters throughout the march, ensuring that members of the deaf community could fully participate in the civic action.
The inclusion reflected growing awareness of accessibility issues in a country where the deaf community has long struggled for recognition.
The march drew participants from across Liberian society—mothers carrying photographs of children lost to addiction, government officials, and civil society leaders—all demanding stronger government action against what many consider a national emergency.
The march culminated at the Capitol Building, where protesters delivered petitions calling for enhanced law enforcement, rehabilitation programs, and mental health reforms.
The urgency behind Thursday's march is underscored by stark statistics. A 2023 study by the United Nations Population Fund shows that one in five Liberian youth use narcotics, most commonly a synthetic mixture of dangerous chemicals including fentanyl and methamphetamine. Civil society groups report that more than 866 drug dens were operating in Monrovia alone last year.
"Drugs are destroying lives, and we must move from talk to action," said Synleseh Stephenie Dahn Koung, the wife of Liberia's vice president, who is also one of the march organizers.
Dahn-Koung added that, "We cannot lose another child or fail another family, and we will not stop until our communities are safe and addiction is replaced with opportunity."
The crisis has particularly galvanized women, who have grown increasingly frustrated with escalating drug-related violence and addiction rates affecting young people.
President Joseph Boakai recently unveiled an Anti-Drug Action Plan, declaring that "the era of impunity for drug traffickers is over" and pledging that Liberia will not lose another generation to substance abuse.
At Thursday's march, lawmakers who received the protesters' petitions struck a notably militant tone. Prince Tole, chair of the House Committee on Claims and Petitions, called the petition "the most important document I've received since I took this post."
"If I had my own way, I would prescribe capital punishment for those who import drugs that kill our children," Johnson told the crowd, reflecting the depth of public anger over the crisis.
Representative Precillia Cooper, Montserrado County District #15 lawmaker and chair of the female legislative caucus, echoed similar sentiments.
"We are mothers first before legislators," she said. "We will work, we will catch them, and when we catch them, and if we can prosecute them, we will prosecute them."
Beyond its anti-drug message, Thursday's march represented a milestone for disability rights in Liberia. The deaf community, which has long described being "trapped in silence" in their quest for justice, saw their first major inclusion in a national protest.
Organizers emphasized that the event set a new standard for inclusive activism, ensuring that all Liberians could participate in shaping their nation's future. The march echoed previous mobilizations, including 2020 protests against widespread sexual violence, but with notably broader accessibility.
Botoe Kanneh, speaking on behalf of legislative leadership, acknowledged past failures. "We know we are responsible for the welfare of our children, but we want to say sorry to you people because we have failed you; the government has failed you," Kanneh said. "We are going to start a new beginning."
Another organizer, Lovetta Bailey Sendolo, framed the challenge in stark terms: "Deliverance begins where excuses end. If we want to deliver this nation from drugs, we must stop giving excuses."
The march represents the latest chapter in Liberia's ongoing struggle with drug-related challenges, as the nation works to address a crisis that threatens an entire generation of young people while simultaneously advancing broader goals of social inclusion and civic participation.
