How did the Champ de Mars incident damage the Marquis de Lafayette’s popularity?

The Champ de Mars incident on July 17, 1791, significantly damaged the Marquis de Lafayette’s popularity due to his role in the violent suppression of a public demonstration.12

During the event, a crowd had gathered at the Champ de Mars in Paris to sign a petition demanding the abdication of King Louis XVI following the royal family's failed attempt to flee the country. As commander of the National Guard, Lafayette was ordered to disperse the protesters. During the ensuing confrontation, his guards opened fire on the crowd, resulting in the deaths and injuries of approximately 50 demonstrators.321

This use of force against citizens caused a sharp decline in Lafayette’s public standing, as he was seen as acting against the revolutionary cause he had previously championed. The backlash from the incident contributed to his decision to resign from his command of the National Guard in October 1791.12