Banksy Sparks Controversy with New Mural on London Court Wall

Elusive street artist Banksy has ignited fresh controversy after unveiling a new mural on the façade of London’s Royal Courts of Justice. 

The artwork portrays a judge striking down a protester with his gavel, a provocative image that prompted authorities to swiftly cover it with black plastic sheets and metal barricades, according to the Daily Mail.

Banksy shared the piece on his official Instagram account, confirming its authenticity. However, the mural was quickly hidden from public view amid heavy security presence.

The work comes in the wake of major protests in London supporting the banned activist group Palestine Action, during what has been described as the largest mass arrest in British history.

Scotland Yard condemned what it called the “unacceptable abuse” directed at officers during the Westminster demonstrations, which drew around 1,500 people and resulted in 890 arrests. Of those detained, 857 were accused of showing support for the proscribed group.

Banksy’s mural, which shows the protester lying on the ground clutching a placard while being struck, has been widely interpreted as a biting commentary on state authority and its handling of dissent. 

Social media users quickly circulated images of the work before it was concealed, calling it “classic Banksy” for exposing political and social contradictions.

The anonymous artist, whose identity has remained a mystery for more than 25 years, is no stranger to controversy. 

His past works in London include a series of nine animal-themed murals scattered across the city last year, while other recent pieces appeared in Marseille, France.

Banksy’s history is filled with headline-making moments, from sneaking an artwork into Tate Britain in 2003, to the infamous shredding of Girl with Balloon during a Sotheby’s auction in 2018, later retitled Love Is In The Bin and sold in 2021 for £18.6 million.