-Memorial Honors His Excellency President Dr. William R. Tolbert Jr. and Others
April is a month of sorrow for the Liberian people—marked by tragic events from the 6th to the 22nd. The memories remain chaotic and unforgettable, a painful chapter in the nation’s history.
On April 22, 2025, Angie Brooks, relatives of the late President William R. Tolbert Jr., and families of thirteen other government officials and security guards gathered for a solemn memorial. The ceremony, held at the Liberian Baptist Seminary near the future resting place of Tolbert and other victims of the April 1980 executions, included a morning service, tree planting, and reburial rites.
Former Justice and Gender Minister of Liberia, Col. Dr. Evatte Carter Noah, served as the memorial’s keynote speaker. Reflecting on the past, she noted that the fallen leaders could have lived anywhere but chose Liberia—only to meet a tragic fate for their mistakes.
“The same corruption they were executed for has only worsened since then,” she said. “Time has brought healing, but we will never forget the lives lost.”
She emphasized that their deaths should not be in vain, urging Liberians to embrace accountability. “The law is the law, and it must be upheld. We must change. For 45 years, we’ve repeated the same words—now is the time to act. Leaders must confront our nation’s problems. Bygones cannot continue to be bygones.”
Honoring Mentors and Legacy
Madam Olubanke King Akerele, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, shared her personal connections to the victims. She recalled Sarah Bright and David Franklin as her professional mentors at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs, figures who shaped her career.
“It grieves me that they are not here to witness today,” she said. “But I extend deep gratitude to the Baptist community for preserving this site. Now, we can properly honor their legacy and what they meant to Liberia.”
To symbolize remembrance, relatives planted trees and erected poles in honor of the late president, the thirteen officials, and the fallen security guards. The ceremony served as both a tribute and a renewed call for justice and reform in Liberia.
