Banksy’s New Mural at the Royal Courts of Justice: Power, Protest, and the Price of Dissent
London woke to a new Banksy mural on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice. The elusive artist confronts society with a stark image: a judge, gavel raised like a weapon, towering over a fallen protester whose blood-spattered placard lies on the ground. While the CCTV camera is turned away.
Banksy at Royal Courts of Justice, London. Image copyright Banksy
The choice of site is deliberate. At Britain’s high court, where justice should be upheld, the mural suggests how law can be weaponised against dissent. It appears just weeks after the UK government branded Palestine Action a terrorist organisation, making membership or support a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Since the weekend, nearly 900 people, ranging from pensioners to professionals, have been arrested for nonviolent action against arms suppliers and supporting Palestine Action under the terrorism act.
Human rights groups and UN experts have condemned the move, warning of a dangerous conflation of protest with terrorism. In Banksy’s mural, the gavel becomes a bludgeon, recasting the judge as aggressor and exposing how freedom of speech and the right to protest are under attack.
Banksy at Royal Courts of Justice, London. Image copyright Banksy
Banksy’s mural at the Royal Courts of Justice is a reminder that art can’t be arrested and resistance will not be silenced. To explore more of his works and see how he continues to challenge power in different ways, you can discover Banksy artworks in our online store here.