A fresh mural by the elusive street artist Banksy has surfaced on the exterior of the Royal Courts of Justice in central London. The artwork portrays a judge, adorned in a classic wig and black gown, striking a protester who is lying on the ground, with blood splattering onto their sign.
Though the mural does not specifically address any one issue, it was unveiled just two days following the arrest of nearly 900 individuals during a protest in London opposing the restrictions on Palestine Action.
In response to its appearance, the mural was swiftly obscured with large plastic sheets and flanked by two metal barriers, with security personnel standing guard.
The Metropolitan Police reported that they had received a notification regarding potential criminal damage and would continue their investigation.
An official from HM Courts and Tribunals stated that the Royal Courts of Justice is a listed structure and they are required to preserve its original character.
One of the security officers mentioned they were uncertain how long they would need to remain on duty but quipped, “At least it’s not raining.”
The location chosen by Banksy is on an outer wall of the Queen’s Building, part of the Royal Courts of Justice complex, situated on the typically quiet Carey Street. Onlookers gathered to capture images of the newly concealed section of wall.
Banksy shared an image of the mural on Instagram, his preferred method for authenticating his works, captioned: “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.”
Labour peer Baroness Harriet Harman interpreted the piece as a “protest about the law,” though she did not clarify which specific legislation she was referring to. She remarked, “Parliament creates the laws, while judges merely interpret them,” adding that there’s no indication that judges have been excessively restricting protest rights beyond Parliament’s intentions.
Known for critiquing government policies, war, and capitalism, Banksy’s stencil art often carries a strong message. Last summer, he launched an animal-themed series in London featuring nine pieces, culminating in a gorilla seemingly lifting a shutter at the entrance to London Zoo.
Other noteworthy installations included piranhas swimming atop a police sentry box in the City of London and a howling wolf on a satellite dish that was removed from a Peckham shop shortly after its reveal.
Banksy has also made headlines for his work in the West Bank. In December 2019, he created a “modified Nativity” scene at a Bethlehem hotel, featuring Jesus’ manger set against Israel’s separation barrier, which appeared to be damaged in a way that formed a star shape.
While Israel argues that the barrier is essential for preventing incursions from the West Bank, Palestinians contend it serves as a means of land appropriation.