The Women’s Presidium of the Student Unification Party (SUP) at the University of Liberia has given the Government of Liberia a 72-hour ultimatum to arrest Deputy Youth and Sports Minister J. Bryant McGill, who stands accused of raping a 14-year-old girl. The group has strongly rejected what it calls the government’s “placatory suspension” of the deputy minister, describing it as a hollow and diversionary move meant to pacify public outrage rather than deliver justice. During a press conference held at the Capitol Hill Campus , SUP denounced President Joseph Boakai’s administration for what it labelled a habitual reliance on “symbolic, toothless, and theatrically staged suspensions.”
According to the group, the decision to suspend McGill only came as a result of growing public pressure and not out of any genuine commitment to social justice or the protection of women and children. The statement noted that the government’s action was “a belated and cowardly gesture” aimed at salvaging its public image rather than confronting wrongdoing. The Women’s Presidium also criticized Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman, accusing him of incompetence and selective enforcement of the law. SUP described Coleman as a “photoshoot-obsessed police IG” who has failed to demonstrate the courage to arrest McGill, while routinely using force against student activists.
The group insisted that the Liberia National Police under his leadership has become a “national embarrassment” that lacks both professionalism and public trust. Citing the legacy of revolutionary leaders such as Thomas Sankara, the SUP vowed to resist what it sees as entrenched systemic failures within governance and law enforcement. The group emphasized that justice should be applied equally, regardless of status, and questioned why poor citizens are often jailed without delay while politically connected figures benefit from hesitation and protection.
As part of its demand, SUP called for a full and independent investigation into the allegations against McGill and urged the Boakai administration to move beyond what it described as “ritualistic platitudes” to demonstrate a true commitment to justice. The group further warned that if the government and police fail to act within the given timeline, the Women’s Presidium will mobilize Liberian women to carry out a citizen’s arrest of the deputy minister. SUP reaffirmed its solidarity with the victim and her family, condemning the alleged crime as a “heinous and despicable act” with no place in a just society. The group positioned itself as the moral compass of Liberia, pledging to remain vigilant in the fight against injustice and impunity.
Author: Zac T. Sherman
