The bell tower of Westminster Abbey rang 72 times for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire as survivors and bereaved relatives began a day of remembrance five years after the disaster and demanded that the authorities finally do justice next year.
In the warm June sun, reminiscent of the day that rose on the burning tower on June 14, 2017, hundreds of mourning family members gathered at the abbey to mark an end to a period of strong community solidarity but growing anger. to the government’s reaction and the lack of prosecution.
The events of the day ended with a multi-religious service at the base of the West London Tower, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge laid a wreath and children who survived the fire released 18 balloons – one for each child killed. The service was followed by a quiet procession through the surrounding streets.
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Equalization, Housing and Communities, Theresa May, Prime Minister at the time of the fire, Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, and Elizabeth Campbell, leader of the Kensington Royal District and Chelsea, who owned the bloc, were in the abbey, as the names of the dead were read by religious leaders – a process that took almost eight and a half minutes. The surname Choucair echoed around the historic vaults of the abbey six times, the number of family members killed.
Also in attendance were Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the public inquiry into the disaster, and television cameraman John Snow, who said from the pulpit that Grenfell spoke of the grotesque inequality that has torn our society apart. He said that if political rhetoric to reduce inequality had to mean anything, “those responsible must face justice”.
A member of the public holds a white rose during the memorial service. Photo: WPA / Getty Images
The congress applauded after Imran Khan, a lawyer working for some of the families during the investigation, said high-ranking officials were welcome at the memorial this year, but investigations into the cause of the fire left them without apology. administer justice.
“If you do nothing in the next 365 days before the next anniversary, unfortunately you will not be welcome then,” he said.
Congregation members included Anne Murphy, who lost her brother, Dennis Murphy. She said her family was “in the dark” awaiting prosecution, which is unlikely until 2024, after a public inquiry reports its findings in 2023. “Achieving justice is what holds us together.” said Murphy.
There was also Sadiq Jamal, who came to the United Kingdom after losing his sister, son-in-law and three children to the fire. “There is no justice,” he said. “We came from Ethiopia because we lost our whole family. We do not see such things happening in other parts of the world. Some of [government ministers] say I’m sorry, but that doesn’t mean anything without justice. “
The service included music played by Rihab Hazard and the congregation singing Abide With Me by Henry Light. Members of the Grenfell community and religious leaders laid white roses on the memorial to the innocent victims of the abbey.
Grenfell United, a group of survivors and mourners, said the disaster was “still as painful as it was then” and warned: “Five years later, another Grenfell is still a very real possibility. This government should be ashamed of its complete inaction and continuing negligence for the 72 lives so unnecessarily lost. “
Referring to the investigation, which heard how material manufacturers used weaknesses in national safety tests and building regulations to sell combustible materials for high towers, he said: “It is difficult to continue when day after day for the last for five years we had to hear how corrupt and rotten the system is. ”
“I often describe it as an open wound,” said the victim’s daughter, Grenfell.
It also cites a statement from the April investigation by Eric Pickles, a former community secretary who failed to tighten fire regulations even though he was told to do so after six people died in a 2009 fire. Pickles described “96 nameless people” who died, apparently mixing the disaster with the Hillsborough tragedy.
“Those in power have been called ‘nameless,'” Grenfell United said. “They were not nameless. They were valued, loved and ours. ”
Gove said: “The tragedy of Grenfell Tower should never be allowed to happen again, and our thoughts are with the bereaved families, the survivors and the residents at this incredibly difficult time.
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