Community leaders, elected officials and members of Providence’s Liberian community gathered Friday at Providence City Hall for a program and flag-raising ceremony marking Liberian Independence Day.

Christine Page, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Bliss Gives, opened the event and introduced musical performances, speakers and a formal reading of a city council resolution recognizing July 26 as Liberian Independence Day. Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, deputy majority leader (Ward 11), read the resolution’s text and said a copy would be sent to Mayor Brett Smiley and to the event organizers.

The reading of the resolution was followed by civic and community remarks that the organizers framed as recognition of the Liberian community’s history and contributions to Providence. Council President Rachel Miller praised the community, saying, “We are proud and so grateful for all of the Liberian community has built and continues to contribute to our community.” U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo said, “I am proud to say that I am a Liberian American,” and reflected on the role of diaspora communities in civic life.

Why this matters: speakers said the ceremony acknowledged a sizable Liberian presence in Rhode Island and aimed to celebrate culture, business and civic participation. The event included performances, historical remarks from the city’s Department of Art, Culture and Tourism and short statements from several Liberian community organizations.

Details from the program: Joel Edwards and Hannah Talawali Gibbs performed songs early in the program. Winona Nelson Davis, executive director of the Economic Progress Institute, spoke about Liberia’s history and economic opportunities. Joe Wilson Jr., director of the Department of Art, Culture and Tourism, provided historical context, noting Liberia’s founding and post-conflict recovery. Representatives of local Liberian organizations — including Georgia Carway of LIVO, Nathan (chairman) of the Liberian Community Association of Rhode Island and Anthony Tamba of the Liberian American Community of Rhode Island — urged unity and community building.

A text of the resolution read by Harris said, in part, that “the Providence City Council hereby recognize 07/26/2025 as Liberian Independence Day in the city of Providence” and invited residents to join weekend celebrations listed in the resolution. The reading does not include a recorded council vote in the meeting transcript provided.

Near the close of the program the transcript records a statement that the Liberian flag would be raised on the City Hall eastern flagpole from July 25 to July 28 “in all pursuance to 0202501.” The transcript records the statement as: “in recognition of Liberian Independence Day and in all pursuance to 0202501, I direct the public property department to raise the Liberian flag on the Providence City Hall's eastern flagpole from July 25 to July 28.” That statement was made on the program stage; the transcript does not record confirmation from city staff in response or a formal recorded council action on that directive.

The program closed with a photo and a short march outside for the physical flag raising. Organizers encouraged residents to visit City Hall while the flag is flown.

What was not recorded: the transcript does not show a formal council vote on the resolution during the program, nor does it record a city staff acknowledgement of the flag-raising directive. The resolution text as read requests that copies be sent to Mayor Brett Smiley and to the event organizers.

The ceremony combined cultural celebration, statements from elected officials and community organizations, and a public reading of a municipal resolution recognizing Liberian Independence Day. Organizers and elected officials said the recognition and the flag-raising were intended to honor the Liberian community’s history and contributions to Providence.