A mural entitled “The Silent Protest of the Statue of Freedom”, created by Dutch artist Judith de Leeuw, became viral in France and the United States. The image, which shows the statue of freedom with his hands covering his face and torch pousada over his chest, generated strong reactions on social networks and again launched the debate about the statue’s symbolism.
Completed in six days, the mural was inaugurated in Sobbaix, northern France, a city with a large migrant population. The choice of date – just before July 4th – and the place was not coincidental. The work silently criticizes controversial immigration policies, such as those of the Trump period, and aims to remember the founding values of the statue: freedom, hope and justice.
Since its disclosure, the image has been seen by more than 18 million people on social network X and reported by means such as USA today and CBS. The reactions were divided: while some consider it powerful and symbolic of the present state of the US, others have classified it from offensive and “disgusting”. Republican congressman Tim Burchett wrote: “If there is a country that should be licked the boots, this country is France.”
The controversy also rekindled ancient appeals to the return of the statue of freedom. In March, the French MEF Raphaël Glucksmann argued that the US no longer represents the values that motivated the monument’s offer. The White House response through spokesman Karoline Leavitt was hard: “It’s just because of the US that the French don’t speak German.”
However, the French studio Mission has announced plans to build a new statue of freedom: larger, more masculine and made in titanium. Despite Elon Musk’s symbolic support, the project faces financial difficulties, aggravated by a recent controversy with the Nice Chamber.
Leeuw’s work, by provoking global debate, seems to have achieved his goal: to make the world reflect on what actually acts today the statue of freedom.
A new mural in France depicting Lady Liberty covering her face in shame was unveiled the day before America’s Independence Day.
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY)
