New Banksy mural at London courthouse covered within hours

Banksy revealed a provocative new mural outside London’s Royal Courts of Justice on Monday morning, depicting a judge in traditional wig and robes striking a fallen protester with a gavel.
The artwork was swiftly covered with large plastic sheets and metal barriers within hours of appearing, with Metropolitan Police confirming they received a report of criminal damage and that investigations would continue.
The timing appears connected to Saturday’s mass arrests of 890 protesters who demonstrated against the UK government’s ban on Palestine Action, with 857 people arrested under the Terrorism Act for displaying supportive placards.
Palestine Action was officially proscribed as a terrorist organization on July 5, 2025, making membership or support punishable by up to 14 years in prison after the group caused £7 million in damage at RAF Brize Norton.
Defend Our Juries, which organized Saturday’s protest, called the mural a powerful depiction of government brutality against protesters, while authorities cited their obligation to maintain the listed building’s original character.

Street artist Banksy created a provocative mural outside London’s Royal Courts of Justice that depicts a judge in traditional wig and robes striking a fallen protester with a gavel. The artwork appeared Monday morning on an exterior wall of the Queen’s Building and was swiftly covered by authorities within hours of its appearance.

Banksy confirmed the mural’s authenticity through an Instagram post, captioning it simply “Royal Courts of Justice. London”. The piece shows a protester lying on the ground clutching a blood-splattered placard while a judge towers over him brandishing a gavel. The predominantly black-and-white artwork includes splashes of red paint representing blood.instagram

Swift Cover-Up and Security Response

Security officials quickly concealed the artwork with large sheets of black plastic and metal barriers, positioning guards and CCTV surveillance to monitor the site. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they received a report of criminal damage and stated that investigations would continue. A spokesperson for HM Courts and Tribunals told the BBC that the Royal Courts of Justice is a listed building and officials are “obliged to maintain its original character”.theartnewspaper

Connection to Palestine Action Protests

The mural’s timing appears deliberately connected to recent mass arrests in London. On Saturday, police arrested 890 protesters who demonstrated against the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. The vast majority—857 people—were arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act for displaying placards reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.washingtonpost

Palestine Action was officially banned on July 5, 2025, after members broke into RAF Brize Norton and caused approximately £7 million in damage to military aircraft. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000, making membership or support for the group a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.wikipedia

Activist and Expert Reactions

Defend Our Juries, which organized Saturday’s protest, called the mural a powerful depiction of “the brutality unleashed by Yvette Cooper on protesters by proscribing Palestine Action”. The group stated that “when the law is used as a tool to crush civil liberties, it does not extinguish dissent, it strengthens it”.theartnewspaper

Art expert Jasper Tordoff from MyArtBroker noted the significance of Banksy’s location choice, saying the artist “transforms a historic symbol of authority into a platform for debate” and uses “the building itself to sharpen the message”.artnet

The artwork represents Banksy’s latest political commentary, continuing his tradition of addressing government policies, war, and civil liberties through street art. Last summer, he captured London’s attention with an animal-themed series across the city, though this latest work returns to his more explicitly political messaging.bbc