Banksy Mural Removed From London Royal Courts Amid Protest Crackdown

A new mural by the anonymous British street artist Banksy appeared on the Royal Courts of Justice in London, depicting a judge wielding a gavel over a protester holding a blood-spattered placard. The artwork, widely interpreted as a sharp critique of the UK government's crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists and the recent mass arrests linked to Palestine Action protests, was swiftly covered and then removed by authorities citing the building's listed heritage status. Despite efforts to scrub the mural, a ghostly shadow remains, which some view as amplifying Banksy's message about government censorship and the suppression of civil liberties. The mural's removal has sparked debate over free speech and the right to protest in the UK, with some suggesting Banksy anticipated the censorship and used a paint resistant to removal as part of the statement. Critics argue the artwork could have been preserved and sold to benefit charity, while supporters see the erasure as a metaphor for ongoing government crackdowns on dissent. The incident highlights rising tensions between government actions, judicial warnings about criticism, and public demand for civil liberties.