Iconic street artist, Banksy‘s controversial new stencil shows a judge in full traditional attire—wig and gown—striking an unarmed protester with a gavel while the protester lies on the ground clutching a blood-spattered placard. The only color in the mostly black-and-white piece is red on the placard.
Banksy confirmed authorship by posting a photo of the mural on Instagram captioned “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.”
The artwork surfaced shortly after nearly 900 people were arrested in a protest against the UK government’s ban on the group Palestine Action. Many see the mural as a comment on what these critics view as state suppression of protest.
Although not explicitly naming Palestine Action, the timing and imagery suggest themes of judicial overreach, civil liberties, and free expression.
Response & Removal
The site was quickly secured—guards installed barriers, security cameras, and plastic sheeting—and the mural was covered soon after it went live.
Authorities said the piece would be removed because the Royal Courts of Justice is a historically protected building (143 years old), and the law requires its listed character to be preserved.
Metropolitan Police are investigating the mural as potential criminal damage.
This mural and its swift removal spotlight deepening tensions over protest rights, the boundaries of artistic expression, and how public institutions respond when art critiques state power. Banksy’s work has long stirred debate about how much dissent society tolerates—and how much gets erased.
The installation also raises legal questions: what constitutes criminal damage vs. freedom of speech in the UK, especially on listed buildings.
TL;DR
- Banksy painted a mural on 7 September showing a judge striking a protester in front of the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
- He confirmed it via Instagram, as usual for claiming new works.
- The court building is protected by heritage law; removal was ordered shortly thereafter.
- Many see the piece as a protest art response to recent arrests of nearly 900 people under a ban on Palestine Action.
