A striking new Banksy mural has appeared on the wall of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, once again pushing the anonymous artist into the center of political and cultural debate. The artwork, which portrays a judge raising a gavel over a fallen protester, was briefly visible before being covered up with black plastic sheets and metal barriers. Security officials were later seen guarding the site, ensuring the mural remained hidden from public view.
Story Highlights
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Banksy mural unveiled at Royal Courts of Justice in London
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Artwork depicts judge attacking protester with a gavel
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Seen as commentary on Palestine Action arrests
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Covered up quickly by authorities with plastic sheeting and barriers
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Banksy posted photo on Instagram before removal
The new Banksy artwork, positioned on the Queen’s Building at the courts complex, shows a dramatic clash between authority and dissent. In the mural, a judge in traditional wig and gown looms over a protester lying on the ground. The protester clutches a blood-stained placard, while the judge, wielding a gavel, appears to strike with force.
Banksy himself confirmed the authenticity of the mural by posting a photo on Instagram with the caption:
“Royal Courts Of Justice. London.”
Within hours of its appearance, however, the image was no longer freely visible to the public. Large sheets of black plastic were installed, covering the mural entirely. Metal barriers were also erected, and security officials were stationed nearby under the watch of CCTV cameras.
Campaign Group Responds
The mural has been widely interpreted as a reference to the recent arrest of hundreds of demonstrators linked to the banned activist network Palestine Action.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries, which helped organize last weekend’s rally, issued a statement praising the work.
A spokesperson said:
“It powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed by Yvette Cooper on protesters by proscribing Palestine Action.”
The spokesperson added:
“When the law is used as a tool to crush civil liberties, it does not extinguish dissent, it strengthens it.”
Banksy’s Political Edge
The Banksy mural is consistent with the artist’s long history of politically charged street art. His stenciled graffiti frequently targets themes of government power, war, protest, and capitalism.
In London last summer, Banksy created a series of nine animal-themed works across the capital. These included a gorilla painted to appear as if it was lifting a shutter at the entrance of London Zoo, piranhas swimming inside a police sentry box transformed into a fish tank, and a wolf silhouette painted on a satellite dish in Peckham. The wolf piece was stolen within hours of its unveiling, highlighting the value and vulnerability of the artist’s work.
The Royal Courts of Justice mural, however, is among Banksy’s most direct commentaries on judicial power and protest suppression. Its sudden concealment has only fueled further speculation and debate about its meaning.
A Pattern of Controversy
For years, Banksy murals have sparked public conversations about authority, freedom, and resistance. Whether addressing themes of war, urban inequality, or the environment, his works are often seen as sharp critiques of those in power.
This latest piece, installed at the very heart of Britain’s legal system, carries added weight. By choosing the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice, Banksy has placed the issue of protest rights and state power directly onto one of the country’s most symbolic buildings.
For now, the mural remains hidden. But like many of Banksy’s creations, its brief exposure has already left a lasting impact on debates surrounding art, protest, and politics.
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