'Lafayette, we are here' has an entirely different meaning in front of Joe Biden's White House
The phrase '"Lafayette, we are here," first invoked during World War I, but sometimes recalled on D-Day, too, has a deeply resonant meaning for the U.S. and its first ally, France.
France literally bankrupted itself to provide to the U.S. the critical military support it needed to win its War of Independence against the British, with the Marquis de Lafayette, a young French nobleman who was serious about liberty, leading the effort, bringing in French military heavyweight marshal, the Comte de Rochambeau.
By 1917, the U.S. was returning the favor, rescuing France from the grip of Germany, including at the June 6, 1918 battle of Belleau Wood, where more Americans were killed than on D-Day in 1944. But there are times when this phrase has been noted on D-Day, which was just beautifully commemorated by the French for its allies on that fateful date in Normandy.
According to Encyclopedia.com:
These words were spoken during World War I at the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette during a speech honoring his heroic service in the cause of the American Revolution. On 4 July 1917 Paris celebrated American Independence Day. A U.S. battalion marched to the Picpus Cemetery, where several speeches were made at Lafayette's tomb. The historic words uttered on that occasion, "Lafayette, nous voilà" (Lafayette, we are here), have been popularly, but erroneously, attributed to General John J. Pershing. He stated that they were spoken by Colonel Charles E. Stanton, and "to him must go the credit for coining so happy and felicitous a phrase."
France helped us at a critical time. We helped them twice at critical times for them. It's mutual.
'Lafayette, we are here.'
But as the French showed President Biden every courtesy and put on a polished, professional, and beautiful commemoration, its president expressing gratitude to our country, in Washington, D.C., there was another kind of 'Lafayette, we are here,' going on, at Lafayette Park in front of the White House, and it was ugly.
Pro-Hamas protestors, none of whom got arrested, despite clearly breaking the law, defiled statues in the park honoring our French allies, one of which appears to be the Lafayette statue:
U.S. Park Police Spox tells CBS USPP made no arrests at the protest today. However, there is graffiti covering statues in Lafayette Park.
— Natalie Brand (@NatalieABrand) June 8, 2024
Overall, from my vantage point, the demonstration remained mostly calm. A range of ages, activist groups, as well as families & children pic.twitter.com/AzIflRRw6R
They abused the park police:
#NOW Park Police dances as protesters throw bottles and chant "Fascist!" at him outside of White House DC pic.twitter.com/mXC9CeO4Ed
— Oliya Scootercaster π΄ (@ScooterCasterNY) June 8, 2024
Mostly peaceful they said? THEY LIED! New footage of Lafayette Park opposite the White House shows “agitators throwing bricks, glass, bottles, and other assaults against law enforcement officers.” π‘ @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/ESq6iWRKIa
— McCarthyism2.0 (@mccarthyism2024) June 26, 2020
They spewed terrorist threats with a mask of a bloodied severed head:
Yeah, when you wear a Hamas headband and hold up a mask depicting the severed head of the U.S. President, it’s no longer a peace rally.
— Drew Pavlou π¦πΊπΊπ¦πΉπΌ (@DrewPavlou) June 9, 2024
This guy should be deported pic.twitter.com/o072WpTShl
They vandalized the Rochambeau statue:
Rochambeau Statue in Lafayette Park near the White House.
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 8, 2024
This is the modern Democrat Party where terrorists are welcome.
See you in November, fools.pic.twitter.com/h7uQblF5a3
Today's the anniversary of the day Lafayette swore allegiance to the United States in 1778:
#OTD Sworn before #GeorgeWashington on June 9, 1778, this oath of allegiance was taken by the Marquis De La Fayette, Major General in the Continental Army. #lafayette2024 #lafayette2025 #marquisdelafayette #generallafayette #ushistory #lafayette #amrev #howrevolutionary pic.twitter.com/LSYZwVdkEL
— The Lafayette Trail (@LafayetteTrail) June 9, 2021
Reportedly, nothing was done and the cops just let this ugly specter happen:
I used to work across the street from Lafayette Park when W was president and have seen many protests in front of the White House.
— vinnie payne (@vinnie_payne) June 9, 2024
I have also seen them clear the park with an aggressiveness that leaves no room for negotiation.
The city is allowing this to happen. Maybe helping
Which tells us a lot about Joe Biden and the kind of government he represents and values. That abortion and Jan. 6 protestors can be sent to prison for years and years, while this garbage symbolically directed at our valuable ally goes on with impunity says mountains about what the Biden administration is about. And after the French treated him so well in France.
What an ingrate.