"The artist Banksy recently drew a mural at the Royal Courts of Justice in London depicting a judge in a traditional wig and a black robe, thrashing an unarmed protester with his gavel. The protester is lying on the ground in a defensive position, with one hand raised, while the other hand holds up a blank sign splattered with blood - the only red in the otherwise black-and-white mural. A judge promptly directed for it to be removed, only further highlighting the mural's message regarding free expression."
"In March 2024, Alam was charged with a Class B misdemeanor of graffiti with a pecuniary loss of less than $750 for allegedly spray painting Uncommon Church 's exterior wall with "F*** ISRAEL." The maximum custodial penalty for a Class B misdemeanor is 180 days in jail. This represents the lowest penalty range for offenses that result in jail time. But in a move that should chill free speech advocates everywhere, the county eventually brought new charges against Alam, including a hate crimes enhancement that could have led to 10 years in prison."
A Banksy mural outside the Royal Courts of Justice shows a robed judge thrashing an unarmed protester, with a blood-splattered blank sign as the sole color, and a judge ordered its removal. In Tarrant County, Texas, anti-genocide activist Raunaq Alam was charged in March 2024 with a Class B misdemeanor for allegedly spray-painting "F*** ISRAEL" on Uncommon Church's exterior, carrying up to 180 days in jail. Authorities later added a hate crimes enhancement that could have raised exposure to a decade in prison. Uncommon Church displayed an Israeli flag and had posted its pastor alongside armed Israeli soldiers online.
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