West_Bank_-_BBC_News.txt
New Banksy mural appears at Royal Courts of Justice.txt
New Banksy mural appears at Royal Courts of Justice2 days agoShareSaveThomas Mackintosh and baumgarten pokerPaddy EvansBBC NewsShareSaveBanksyA new mural by elusive street artist Banksy has appeared on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice building in central London.It depicts a judge in a traditional wig and black robe hitting a protester lying on the ground, with blood splattering their placard. While the mural does not reference a particular cause or incident, its appearance comes two days after almost 900 people were arrested at a London protest against the ban on Palestine Action.The artwork was quickly covered up by large sheets of plastic and metal barriers. Court officials told the BBC the work would be removed. The Metropolitan police said it had received a report of criminal damage and that enquiries would continue.A spokesperson for HM Courts and Tribunals said that the Royal Courts of Justice was a listed building and that it was "obliged to maintain its original character". The spot Banksy chose was on an external wall of the Queen's Building, part of the Royal Courts of Justice complex, on the usually quiet Carey Street. On Monday it was busy with onlookers taking pictures of the recently hidden patch of wall.One of two security officers outside the building said they did not know how much longer they would be required to stand guard, adding, "At least it's not raining."The graffiti has been covered up and guardedThe Bristol-based street artist shared a photo of the wall art on Instagram, which is Banksy's usual method of claiming a work as authentic. The artist captioned the picture: "Royal Courts Of Justice. London."Labour peer Baroness Harriet Harman said she believed the work was a "protest about the law" without specifying which legislation she meant."Parliament makes the law, and the judges simply interpret the law," she added. "I don't think there's any evidence, in terms of the right to protest, that judges have been clamping down on protests beyond what Parliament intended."Banksy's stencilled graffiti is often critical of government policy, war and capitalism.Last summer, the artist began an animal-themed campaign in the capital of nine works, which concluded with a gorilla appearing to lift up a shutter on the entrance to London Zoo.Other notable works included piranhas swimming on a police sentry box in the City of London, and a howling wolf on a satellite dish, which was taken off the roof of a shop in Peckham, south London, less than an hour after it was unveiled.London Zoo removes Banksy work for 'safekeeping'Police investigate removal of street sign in Peckham as alleged theftBanksy piranhas to find new home in London MuseumBanksy has in the past also been known for his work in the West Bank. In December 2019 he created a "modified Nativity" at a hotel in Bethlehem which showed Jesus' manger in front of Israel's separation barrier, which appeared to have been pierced by a blast, creating the shape of a star.Israel says the barrier is needed to prevent infiltrations from the West Bank but Palestinians say it is a tool to grab land.CultureLondonArtStreet artBanksy
