New Banksy mural appears to reference Palestine Action arrests
- Text by Isaac Muk
- Photography by Banksy (Instagram screengrab)
Queen’s Building — It depicts a judge attacking a protestor with a hammer, and has been unveiled at London’s Royal Courts of Justice.
A new Banksy mural has been unveiled at the Royal Courts of Justice, which appears to reference the arrests of supporters of direct action group Palestine Action.
In an announcement on Instagram today (September 8), the anonymous graffiti artist revealed that he was behind the mural, which depicts a judge attacking a protestor holding a blank placard. It has since been covered up by security guards.
It comes two days after around 890 people were arrested at a demonstration in support of the group on Saturday, which has been proscribed as a terrorist group under anti-terror laws by the British government since July, following an action that saw activists break into an RAF base and spray painted two military aircraft.
An estimated 1,500 people took part in the protest, with reports of elderly protestors and NHS staff being arrested for allegedly supporting a proscribed group. Protestors held up placards that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
The Metropolitan Police have claimed that 17 arrests were made for assaulting police officers “after the protests turned violent”, according to the BBC, although event organisers have accused the police of making “false claims” about violence.
In a statement published by Novara, a spokesperson from Defend Our Juries, the organisation behind the demonstration, said: “Banksy’s work of art on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed by Yvette Cooper on protestors by proscribing Palestine Action.
“When the law is used as a tool to crush civil liberties, it does not extinguish dissent – it strengthens it. As Banksy’s artwork shows, the state can try to strip away our civil liberties, but we are too many in number and our resolve to stand against injustice cannot be beaten – our movement against the ban is unstoppable and growing every day.
“We hope everyone who is moved by Banksy’s inspiring work of art will join our next action, which will be announced soon.”
Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has previously defended the proscription Palestine Action, claiming that some of the group’s supporters “don’t know the full nature” of it.
Isaac Muk is Huck’s digital editor. Follow him on Bluesky.
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