A new Banksy mural depicting a judge enthusiastically beating a protester with his own gavel appeared this week on the wall of a central London courthouse, only to be swiftly condemned as “inappropriate” by officials. The piece, which drew instant crowds, was hailed by art critics as a sharp commentary on judicial impartiality, and by police as “a clear and present distraction from our ongoing work of kettling the public.”
Court administrators confirmed the mural will be scrubbed away, citing concerns it could undermine trust in the justice system – though observers noted that the justice system has been doing a fine job of that on its own. One passerby remarked, “It’s the most accurate courtroom sketch I’ve ever seen.”
Banksy’s representatives declined to comment, but a local maintenance worker promised the mural would be erased “faster than a billionaire’s tax bill.”
