Legendary Bristol street artist Banksy has unveiled a powerful new work on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
It's perhaps one of the elusive street artist's most audacious works of street art yet - painting a mural depicting a figure holding a blank placard being beaten by a judge wielding a gavel, with blood splattering the placard, on a wall at the very heart of the British judicial system. Possibly his greatest piece to date too,
It arrived directly after the Metropolitan Police arrested over 850 people for breaking terror laws on 6 September at a protest against the proscription of non-violent direct action Palestine Action.
Approximately 1,500 people took part in the demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries (DOJ), in London’s Parliament Square - making it one of the biggest acts of mass civil disobedience in British history. Those arrested included former and current NHS staff, an 83-year-old priest and a disabled RAF veteran.
A DOJ spokesperson 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.”
New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is facing growing pressure to scrap the “impossible to enforce” Palestine Action ban. Since the controversial proscription came into force in July, more than 1,600 people have been arrested under terror legislation and over 70 have been charged.
A mannequin was arrested at yesterday’s Lift The Ban action for silently holding a placard with the words “I oppose genocide - I support Palestine Action” written on it. If you don’t laugh at the absurdity, you’ll cry.
The UK government proscribed PA to demonise the entire pro Palestinian movement. When the Government is arresting people under terrorism laws for sitting peacefully in protest, something is going very wrong and is clearly undemocratic.
Arresting peaceful protesters condemning the genocide in Gaza exposes the UK’s complicity in silencing dissent. Standing for Palestinian lives is not terrorism, it’s a moral duty.
Meanwhile Isaac Herzog named in the ICJ judgment as showing genocidal intent – will be welcomed to Britain by Keir Starmer this week and given the red carpet treatment while the state arrests pensioners for holding signs saying, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” If this keeps up, soon we will all be "terrorists".
A reminder that the law is not always just or right. Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. People are understandably outraged by the ongoing genocide being committed in Gaza and are entitled under international human rights law to express their horror. Amnesty International has long criticised UK terrorism law for being excessively broad, vaguely worded and a threat to freedom of expression.
Yesterdays response only further demonstrates that their concerns were justified. Any restriction on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly must be lawful, necessary and proportionate to achieving a legitimate aim.
Criminalising speech in this context is only permitted when it incites violence or advocates hatred. Expressing support for Palestine Action does not, in itself, meet this threshold.
Pictures on social media appear to show the artwork has already been covered up by large sheets of plastic and two metal barriers, while being guarded by security officials outside the building.
Which is on the rear of an office building that forms part of the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand in London, and is located around the back on Carey Street, with the Gothic Victorian court room complex right next door. The work, ironically enough, appeared right underneath a CCTV camera monitoring the rear gate entrance to the Royal Courts of Justice.
While the British government attempts to silence voices by banning Palestine Action, the real issue remains.. their complicity in the killing of innocent men, women, and children. If the price of western ‘civilisation’ is support or indifference to Genocide in Gaza by Israel then it’s not worth saving. I oppose Genocide - I support Palestine. Action. Free Palestine.
The Banksy mural showing a judge beating a protester with a gavel has been be removed from a wall outside a London court due to the building’s historic status.
ReplyDeleteThe piece of art by Banksy was genius. With it's removal the story gets stronger.
This act of censorship paradoxically amplifies the mural’s message. What was meant to silence dissent only highlights it.
The attempt to suppress Banksy’s critique confirmed the very charge at the heart of the artwork: that voices challenging power are too often silenced rather than heard. The cover-up became part of the art.
And one thing that is very clear now respect and trust in the system are gone.
“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” - Banksy