Banksy has confirmed a new mural on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, which appeared on September 8, 2025. The artist posted a photograph on Instagram, garnering over 1.5 million likes and sparking international attention. The mural depicts a robed judge kneeling over a protestor, holding a gavel as if to strike, while the protestor lies on the ground holding a bloody placard.
The artwork is widely interpreted as a commentary on the recent proscription of Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 and the subsequent arrest of nearly 900 protestors in London. The Metropolitan Police reported criminal damage and covered the mural, which was later scrubbed off the wall by September 10.
Banksy's piece raises questions about the role of law and legal systems in violence, using the gavel as a symbol of legal authority turned weapon. Despite criticism that gavels are not used in English courts, the imagery is seen as a deliberate reference to popular legal iconography and the concept of unjust laws.
The removal of the mural has arguably amplified its message, leaving a ghostly stain on the building that continues to provoke debate about protest, state power, and artistic expression.
