Police and demonstrators during a Lift the Ban on Palestine Action protest organised by Defend our Juries in Parliament Square in London. Photo / Getty Images
Defend Our Juries, a civic organisation supporting rights to jury trials and the group that organised the protest, said the Banksy mural symbolises “the state brutality unleashed on [protesters] following the proscription of Palestine Action”.
Loretta So, who was visiting London from California, said she came to see the mural “out of curiosity” after Banksy’s post on social media. “I’ve been a fan of his work for a really long time, and to be able to see this up close is pretty amazing,” So said.
She said she hasn’t been following the UK protests but was interested to see “the messages behind [Banksy’s] artwork,” adding that she wasn’t surprised to find the mural covered up.
“I understand that it’s the government, and obviously they are not agreeing with what he’s doing,” she said. But, she added, “I’m actually pretty impressed they are allowing people to see it”.
British Security Minister Dan Jarvis said at Parliament that anyone “who wishes to demonstrate about the humanitarian situation in Gaza or the actions of any government, including our own, has the absolute freedom to gather with others and voice their views”.
But Palestine Action “has conducted an escalating campaign involving intimidation and sustained criminal damage, including to Britain’s national security infrastructure,” he said. “These are not the actions of a legitimate protest group.”
In March, Palestine Action splashed red paint over at least one building at President Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, painted the slogan “Gaza is not for sale” on the lawn and dug up grass across parts of the golf course there, protesting Trump’s proposal to develop Gaza and displace its residents after Israel’s war with Hamas.
In June, the group’s members entered a military airfield and spray-painted two military aircraft.
The protest that was held in support of Palestine Action last week “was in stark contrast with” the peaceful protests of other pro-Palestinian groups, such as those led by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Jarvis said.
The artwork of Banksy, a Bristol-based muralist whose identity is unknown, often carries political messages. Sometimes, the artist’s work appears designed to simply amuse.
Banksy’s mural appeared after a protest supporting Palestine Action, a group banned for alleged violent acts. Photo / Getty Images
Professor Paul Gough, the former Vice-Chancellor at Arts University Bournemouth and author of the 2025 book “Banksy: Cultural Outlaw,” described Banksy’s latest mural as “angry and direct”.
“It’s a very clever and detailed stencil, the faces look like they’ve been laser cut, and the splash of red is vintage Banksy – law at its most raw,” he said in an email. “No wonder it was covered up within minutes and will soon be wiped clean.”
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