On Friday, August 27, 2004, a joint press conference was held at the St. George Hotel Beach Club by Mr. Fadi Khouri, the chairman of the hotel company, and Dr. Muhamad Mugraby, leader of the National Campaign for the Return to the Center of Beirut. A giant sign was posted on the eastern side of the hotel, which had been badly damaged in the 1970-1980s. The sign carried the campaign slogan: STOP SOLIDERE.

Mr. Khouri detailed the legal violations committed on an ongoing basis against the hotel premises by Solidere. Dr. Mugraby expressed his personal support for the exercise by Mr. Khouri of his legal rights but reiterated the campaign's position that Solidere itself is a gross legal, constitutional, and human rights violation that could only be redressed by declaring it null and void. He expressed his firm belief that the displaced owners, tenants and other residents of the old city of Beirut evicted by Solidere will soon return to their properties and exercise full control thereon.

After the press conference, police agents were dispatched on the orders of Solidere and, unlawfully, succeeded in bringing down the poster.