Banksy has revealed new artwork inspired by the death of George Floyd, showing his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
It features the scene of a vigil, in which a candle burns the American flag.
The street artist posted an image of it on his Instagram account, and wrote: “At first I thought I should just shut up and listen to black people about this issue.
“But why would I do that? It’s not their problem, it’s mine.”
He continued: “People of colour are being failed by the system. The white system. Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. The faulty system is making their life a misery, but it’s not their job to fix it. They can’t – no one will let them in the apartment upstairs.
“This is a white problem. And if white people don’t fix it, someone will have to come upstairs and kick the door in.”
Mr Floyd, 46, died in Minneapolis last week after a police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck for at least eight minutes while arresting him for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 note in a shop.
He could be heard gasping while repeatedly saying: “I can’t breathe.”
The arresting officer, Derek Chauvin, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter four days later. Those charges were later upgraded to second-degree murder.
Anti-racism protests have been taking place across the US and the rest of the world, including London.
More are planned this weekend in the UK, although the government has urged people to avoid mass gatherings in breach of the coronavirus restrictions and social distancing rules.
Around 4,000 people are expected to attend a demonstration in Bristol, Banksy’s hometown, which will include a march through the city to Castle Park on Sunday.
The identity of Banksy has long been a closely-guarded secret.
In April the famous anonymous artist gave fans a rare insight into his personal life by creating an artwork inside his own house during lockdown.
Last month, a piece depicting a nurse as a superhero toy appeared in a corridor at Southampton General Hospital, in tribute to NHS workers during the pandemic.
