Claim: "Police IG asks protesters to not bring gun because if they do, police will b ring theirs."
Source: Isaac Doe, Weah's deputy Youth and Sports Minister
Verdict: Misleading, the police IG asked only protesters not to carry illegal weapons to the planned protest.
Full Text: Issac Doe, former deputy youth and sports minister, in a July 7 Facebook post claimed that Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman asked protesters not to carry guns at the protest scene because if they do, police will retaliate.
The claim: Those with guns, please leave them home, don’t bring them” [because if you bring your guns we will bring our guns too…]
The claim attracted 33 shares, 168 comments, and 206 reactions as of the time of this check.
The Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND), in alliance with WE THE PEOPLE Movement, the youth wings of collaborating political parties led by the Congress for Democratic Change, and the Progressive Student Alliance, has a planned protest July 17 under the theme “Enough is Enough” Peaceful Protest.
According to the groups, the protest marks a significant victory for democracy, the rule of law, and civic freedom—especially in light of recent years of restrictions and police interference and, in some cases, brutalities against peaceful assemblies.
The group got the green light on July 11 to proceed with the action by the Ministry of Justice, the arm of government responsible for issuing permits for such activity.
Verification: Doe was contacted on July 12 about the claim, but he has not responded. When he does, this article will be updated.
The legal or illicit nature of firearms and their movements is not always simple and straightforward but closely linked to the existing regulatory framework that applies at national, regional, and international levels and that can vary significantly from country to country.
It can be recalled President Joseph Boakai issued Executive Order #141, mandating the registration of all firearms in civilian possession.
Under Executive Order #141, all individuals in possession of military-style weapons and single-barrel guns must register and obtain a permit and license from the Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) within a 12-month period from the effective date of this order.
Coleman in the podcast said (3:12-3:21), “To those who have illegal weapons at home please leave it at home don ‘t bring it, thank you.”
Conclusion: After a review of the video by the Liberia National Police, the claim by Doe that Coleman said, Those with guns, please leave them home, don’t bring them” [because if you bring your guns we will bring our guns too…]is misleading. Even though the word weapon was used, Coleman did not mention a gun, as stated by Doe.
