by Sharelle B. McNair
July 7, 2025
Leeuw mentioned revealing the work on the 4th of July was additionally intentional because the Statue of Liberty was a birthday present from France to the USA on July 4, 1884.
As America celebrated Independence Day, France revealed a daring depiction of the Statue of Liberty to specific its disdain for what is occurring within the land of the free and residential of the courageous, BuzzFeed studies.
The mural, titled “The Statue of Liberty’s Silent Protest,” was created by Dutch artist Judith de Leeuw on a constructing within the metropolis of Roubaix. Seen by greater than 16 million individuals, the purpose of the viral mural is for instance the “disgrace” of the Trump administration’s controversial immigration insurance policies, with Girl Liberty masking her face together with her palms and her torch mendacity on her chest.
With the mural’s location being intentional, Leeuw selected Roubaix as a consequence of its “massive migrant inhabitants” who dwell day after day with troublesome circumstances. “The values that the statue as soon as stood for — freedom, hope, the best to be your self — have been misplaced for a lot of,” the artist mentioned.
For the 4th of July, Dutch artist Judith de Leeuw unveiled a mural in France titled “The Statue of Liberty’s Silent Protest” depicting Girl Liberty masking her eyes in disgrace pic.twitter.com/Awu9UApVaK
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) July 4, 2025
Leeuw mentioned that revealing the work on the 4th of July was additionally intentional, because the Statue of Liberty was a birthday present from France to the USA on July 4, 1884, as a solution to have fun the nation’s independence and democracy. Nonetheless, given the flip of occasions over the past six months of President Donald Trump’s second time period, emotions have modified.
The timing of the mural got here hours after Trump signed the “Large, Lovely Invoice” — a GOP-supported laws that’s getting huge backlash for its cuts to Medicaid, extra funding for border safety, and tax advantages for the nation’s rich one p.c. American voters appeared to assist the paintings, laughing at how America has change into a world joke.
“I really feel this proper to my core,” one social media person wrote.
I really feel this proper to my core.
— Deborah, My Buddies Name Me Slayer🔥🐉⚔️🔥 (@drodvik52) July 4, 2025
One other social media person determined to present America each a historical past and math lesson. The Trump administration and others have been pinpointing Independence Day 2025 as America’s 250th birthday. Nonetheless, the maths isn’t mathing.
”It’s July 4th, and this sums up how I really feel. Not solely disgrace, but additionally concern of being seen. Will we even be capable to make it to our 250th anniversary on July 4th, 2026… God assist us all,” one other person mentioned.
It’s July 4th and this sums up how I really feel. Not solely disgrace however concern of trying. Will we even be capable to make it to our 250th anniversary, July 4th 2026… God assist us all
— Shawn (@AIHLIMF) July 4, 2025
After all, a number of individuals used the chance to spout racist rhetoric towards the French nation, dragging problems with homelessness and anti-Muslim views into it.
This isn’t the primary time different international locations have mocked the USA for its radical ideologies. In line with The Guardian, artist and British immigrant Izaac Zevalking showcased a mural of the Statue of Liberty, handcuffed and slammed on the hood of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) police automotive in downtown Las Vegas in 2019.
The paintings got here days after then-Citizenship and Immigration Companies Director Ken Cuccinelli advised making an modification to the sonnet inscribed on the statue to learn: “Give me your drained and your poor who can stand on their very own two toes and who is not going to change into a public cost.”
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