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A mural titled “The Statue of Liberty’s Silent Protest” – featuring Lady Liberty covering her face with her hands and her torch now lying on her chest \u2013 has been unveiled in France.<\/p>\n
The artwork by Dutch artist Judith de Leeuw reportedly took six days to complete. It is located on a building in the northern city of Roubaix, and was unveiled just in time for this year\u2019s 4 July celebrations. \u00a0<\/p>\n
No coincidence as to the timing, considering the artwork was designed to illustrate the shame felt by many regarding the Trump administration\u2019s immigration policies<\/strong><\/a> and ICE detainments of American citizens<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The French location is no fluke either, as de Leeuw stated that Roublaix was chosen due to its \u201clarge migrant population.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n “The values that the statue once stood for – freedom, hope, the right to be yourself – have been lost for many,” she said.<\/p>\n The Statue of Liberty – originally named\u00a0La Libert\u00e9 \u00e9clairant le monde\u00a0(Liberty Enlightening the World) –\u00a0was originally conceived by French politician Edouard de Laboulaye and designed by French artist Auguste Bartholdi (1834 \u2013 1904).\u00a0<\/p>\n It is seen as\u00a0a symbol of liberty, justice and democracy, and was formally delivered to the\u00a0American minister in Paris\u00a0on 4 July 1880. Its official unveiling was in New York City’s harbour on 28 October\u00a01886,\u00a0to mark the centennial of the American Declaration of Independence.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since its unveiling, the painting has gone viral and has been seen by more than 18 million people on X, and it has been picked up by several American news outlets, including USA Today and CBS. \u00a0<\/p>\n It also didn\u2019t take long for social media users to have their say… \u00a0<\/p>\n Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett posted on X: \u201cThis disgusts me. If any country ought to be kissing our ass, it\u2019s France. My Uncle Roy fought and died and is buried there for their freedom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Another pro-Trump account called the artwork \u201cdisgusting\u201d and one slammed the mural as \u201cblatant disrespect towards America.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Conversely, the painting has been praised by many Americans.\u00a0<\/p>\n “In case you are wondering what the world is thinking of us,” one person wrote, while another stated: \u201cThat\u2019s an incredible picture of how most Americans feel now. Ashamed.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n “They should come take the real one back,\u201d wrote another user, adding: \u201cWe don\u2019t deserve her anymore.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Funny that should be mentioned, as that last comment echoes those made earlier this year by French lawmaker Rapha\u00ebl\u00a0Glucksmann, who suggested that it was time for the green lady to come home<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n In March, the center-left member of the European Parliament made a compelling argument for the statue to head back to France, saying that the US no longer represents the values that led France to offer the statue in the first place. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to say to the Americans who have chosen to side with the tyrants, to the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: \u2018Give us back the Statue of Liberty\u2019,\u201d said Glucksmann, adding: \u201cWe gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n