Monrovia – The Council of Patriots (COP), the group that organized the largest protest in the history of the nation, June 7 protest, has welcomed the withdrawal of membership of one of its members from the body.
Senator Oscar Cooper, who has been very vocal on issues in the legislature and on the national scene, was one of the organizers of the June 7 protest.
But the Margibi County Senator Thursday, June 20, announced his withdrawal from the COP.
The Senator said though he has withdrawn from the COP but he still supports the group’s activities and ideology that border on national issues.
“I, Senator Oscar A. Cooper, take this opportunity to formally withdraw my membership and my role as advisor to the Council of Patriots. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to have been one of the initial organizers with other great patriots,” Senator Cooper said.
The Council of Patriot says it welcomes and respects the Senator’s decision to withdraw from COP. One of two spokespersons of COP, Henry Pedro Costa, said the Senator had long informed them that he would withdraw after the protest.
“No, he had told us long ago that after the protest he would officially withdraw from COP’s activities. We respect his decision,” Costa said.
The Senator’s withdrawal comes 13 days after COP staged inarguably the largest protest intended to “Save the State” protest drawing the attention of the Weah-led government to a lot of societal ills.
At a news conference, Senator Cooper said despite all of the negative propagandas made against the protest, Liberians bravely showed up and remained at the protest site until the end.
Senator Cooper, who has been one of the brains behind the protest as a sitting lawmaker, said the protestors peacefully returned to their various homes without any violence, looting or misbehavior. He noted that the protest showed how Liberians are becoming matured in their new democratic dispensation.
“Liberians are learning how to stand up and question their government and also to hold their elected and appointed officials accountable,” he emphasized.
He further disclosed that what should not be missed is the silent majority that were in sympathy by staying home and not going to work, closing their markets and stores on that day, adding that this was a support to the protest of June 7. “I would like to thank the ‘silent majority,’” he said.
Meanwhile, the Margibi County Senator lauded President Weah for respecting Article 17 of the Constitution and also the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia National Police and other state security for respecting the rights of the people to protest and for demonstrating a mature and professional response in keeping law and order.
He also thanked the protest organizer, Council of Patriots (COP), the various political parties: UP, LP, ANC, ALP and others including those braved and courageous Liberians, who turned out on June 7 despite all of the intimidation, warmongering and state-sponsored campaign to discourage people from turning out on the protest day.
The Margibi County lawmaker also called on the Judiciary to ensure that ‘Patriot’ Yekeh Kolubah receives a fair, transparent, and independent trial without the Executive Branch politically interfering in the matter.
According to Senator Cooper, his intent of supporting the COP was to encourage Liberians to challenge inequality and the abuse of power and to be brave enough to ask questions and hold the three branches of government accountable to the people. “This, I believe, is what the June 7th protest has started,” he noted.
Senator Cooper, who among several lawmakers supported the protest, indicated that their June 7 action won’t immediately accomplish a “true change”, but will, however, begun to demand accountability from their government.
“I will continue to speak against the ills of government and to make us the government officials accountable to the people. I will also continue to provide consultation and moral support to the Council of Patriots (COP),” he urged.