Banksy Strikes Again at London’s Royal Courts of Justice
A brand-new Banksy mural has just appeared in central London, and it’s already causing a storm. The artwork showed up on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice, and like much of Banksy’s work, it’s provocative, unsettling, and deeply political.
The mural depicted a judge in a traditional wig and black robe, looming over a protester lying on the ground. The judge was holding a gavel, not as a tool of justice, but as a weapon, striking the protester while blood splattered across the protester’s placard. It’s a stark, almost shocking image, and though no specific cause was directly referenced, the timing of it has people talking. Just two days earlier, nearly 900 people had been arrested in London during demonstrations against the ban on the protest group Palestine Action.
As is often the case with Banksy, the reaction was immediate. Within hours, the artwork was covered up with plastic sheets and fenced off with metal barriers. Security guards were stationed in front of it, preventing people from taking photos or getting close. Some passersby described the move as frustrating, even “disgusting,” while others gathered just to catch a glimpse of the spot where the mural briefly appeared.
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The police confirmed that a report of criminal damage had been received, and inquiries are ongoing. Meanwhile, officials from HM Courts and Tribunals pointed out that the Royal Courts of Justice is a listed building, meaning they are legally obliged to preserve its original appearance. That explanation did little to quiet speculation about whether the real motivation was the content of the piece, not simply its location.
Banksy himself confirmed authorship in his usual way—by posting a photo of the mural on Instagram. The caption was simple: “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.” That’s all it took for the image to explode online.
Commentators quickly weighed in. Labour peer Harriet Harman suggested the mural was a broad protest about the law, while campaigners from groups like Defend Our Juries praised it as a powerful depiction of how civil liberties are being crushed. One spokesperson said that when the law is used to silence dissent, it only strengthens resistance—a sentiment many see reflected in Banksy’s blood-stained stencil.
This isn’t the first time Banksy has used his art to challenge authority. His works frequently take aim at government policies, war, and capitalism. Just last year, his animal-themed series across London grabbed headlines, from a gorilla lifting a zoo shutter to piranhas swimming inside a police sentry box. Beyond London, he’s painted on the West Bank separation barrier and staged powerful works in Bethlehem.
Whether you see the new mural as a protest, a critique of the legal system, or just another piece of subversive art, one thing is clear: Banksy has once again sparked a conversation that won’t be easily covered up, no matter how many sheets of plastic are thrown over it.
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