KARNPLAY, Nimba County – The Free Liberia Movement Inc. on Friday launched its “America 250 & Juneteenth Across the Atlantic Memorial March” in Karnplay, Nimba County, honoring the legacies of late Massachusetts State Representative Benjamin Swan, abolitionist Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman, and Amanda Tussie Makor while urging a renewed dialogue on historical justice, reconciliation, and U.S.-Liberia relations.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
The event coincides with activities marking the 250th anniversary of American independence and serves as a platform for the movement’s call for what it describes as truth, reconciliation, and a review of U.S. citizenship policies affecting persons born in Liberia.
According to the movement, the memorial march commemorates the life and contributions of Representative Benjamin Swan (1933–2026), a longtime civil rights advocate who, during a 2008 visit to Liberia, publicly supported restoring U.S. citizenship rights to persons born in Liberia.
Participants also paid tribute to Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman (1742–1829), whose successful freedom suit in Brom & Bett v. Ashley (1781) became a landmark legal precedent in ending slavery in Massachusetts, as well as Amanda Tussie Makor (2002–2026), whose death earlier this year the organization said symbolizes the aspirations of a new generation seeking peace, justice, and reconciliation.
Speaking ahead of the event, Rev. Torli H. Krua, Founder and Executive Director of the Free Liberia Movement, said the United States’ 250th Independence Anniversary presents an opportunity to reflect on unresolved chapters of American constitutional history.
“As America celebrates 250 years of independence, it must also confront the unfinished chapters of its constitutional history,” Krua said. “Representative Ben Swan challenged both Americans and Liberians to pursue truth before reconciliation. Elizabeth Freeman proved that constitutional promises must apply equally, while Amanda Makor reminds us that the next generation deserves a future built on truth, justice, and human dignity.”
The organization argues that Liberia’s history is closely intertwined with that of the United States and is urging greater scholarly, judicial, congressional, and public examination of American policies relating to slavery, colonization, and Liberia’s founding.
The movement also referenced a 2026 United Nations General Assembly resolution describing the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as crimes against humanity, saying historical injustices require truth-telling, acknowledgment, reconciliation, and meaningful reparative action.
Proposed America 250 Unity and Reconciliation Act
During the memorial march, the Free Liberia Movement called on the U.S. Congress to consider an America 250 Unity and Reconciliation Act, which it says is inspired by Representative Swan’s vision of constitutional reform and national unity.
Among its proposals are:
- Establishment of a Congressional Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine the historical and constitutional impact of the 1790 Naturalization Act, slavery, federal colonization policies, and racial exclusion.
- Restoration of U.S. citizenship to persons born in Liberia, citing the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 as a legislative model.
- Creation of a National Unity and Reconciliation Innovation Fund to support civic education, constitutional awareness, conflict prevention, historical research, reconciliation initiatives, and democratic participation in both Liberia and the United States.
According to the organization, strengthening civic trust and addressing historical divisions are essential to promoting long-term democratic stability.
“Representative Ben Swan believed that investing in truth, reconciliation, equal citizenship, and peaceful citizen leadership is a national security necessity,” Krua said. “America cannot spend only on external military force while ignoring division, distrust, and injustice at home.”
Appeal to Churches, Researchers, and the Media
The Free Liberia Movement also appealed to churches, missionary organizations, historians, universities, journalists, documentary filmmakers, and civil society organizations in both Liberia and the United States to support dialogue on historical reconciliation.
The organization encouraged missionary institutions to examine their historical roles in Liberia, including both their contributions to education, healthcare, and humanitarian work, and any past practices involving racial discrimination or unequal leadership opportunities where applicable.
Where historical injustices are identified, the movement called for confession, reconciliation, institutional reform, and appropriate restitution.
“The Gospel calls Christians to walk in the light,” Krua said. “Truth does not diminish the sacrifices of missionaries; it honors them by ensuring that where mistakes were made, they are acknowledged with humility, and where justice remains unfinished, it is pursued with courage.”
The Free Liberia Movement concluded by inviting the Governments of Liberia and the United States, members of Congress, faith leaders, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, youth groups, scholars, journalists, and citizens of both countries to engage in peaceful dialogue on constitutional history, equal citizenship, reconciliation, and the evolving relationship between Liberia and the United States.
The organization said it believes the America 250 commemoration should serve not only as a celebration of U.S. independence but also as an opportunity to strengthen liberty, equality, constitutional governance, and reconciliation for future generations.
