The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
A new Banksy mural depicting a judge attacking a protester was removed from the Royal Courts of Justice after officials ordered its erasure, citing preservation of the historic building.
Banksy’s latest mural on the wall of London’s Royal Courts of Justice did not last long.
The stenciled painting, which showed a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-stained placard while a judge in traditional wig and gown struck him with a gavel, was scrubbed away Wednesday by court administrators.
The decision came quickly after the work appeared on Monday, with administrators stating the 143-year-old Victorian Gothic revival building must retain its original character due to its historical value.
A spokesperson confirmed that preserving the integrity of the courthouse, home to both the Court of Appeal and High Court, was the priority.
Police said they were investigating a complaint that the mural constituted criminal damage.
Banksy’s representatives did not provide comment.
The artist had confirmed the work’s authenticity by posting an image on Instagram, his typical method of acknowledgment.
Though the mural did not reference a specific case, some activists viewed it as a critique of the government’s ban on the group Palestine Action, recently designated a terrorist organization.
The ban sparked mass demonstrations last weekend in London, where almost nine hundred people were arrested.
The Royal Courts of Justice has been directly involved in the legal process, with appellate judges initially rejecting Palestine Action’s appeal before a High Court judge later allowed proceedings to move forward — a decision the government is now challenging.
The stenciled painting, which showed a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-stained placard while a judge in traditional wig and gown struck him with a gavel, was scrubbed away Wednesday by court administrators.
The decision came quickly after the work appeared on Monday, with administrators stating the 143-year-old Victorian Gothic revival building must retain its original character due to its historical value.
A spokesperson confirmed that preserving the integrity of the courthouse, home to both the Court of Appeal and High Court, was the priority.
Police said they were investigating a complaint that the mural constituted criminal damage.
Banksy’s representatives did not provide comment.
The artist had confirmed the work’s authenticity by posting an image on Instagram, his typical method of acknowledgment.
Though the mural did not reference a specific case, some activists viewed it as a critique of the government’s ban on the group Palestine Action, recently designated a terrorist organization.
The ban sparked mass demonstrations last weekend in London, where almost nine hundred people were arrested.
The Royal Courts of Justice has been directly involved in the legal process, with appellate judges initially rejecting Palestine Action’s appeal before a High Court judge later allowed proceedings to move forward — a decision the government is now challenging.
