Westminster Abbey Bell rang 72 times for Grenfell Tower fire victims as survivors and mourning relatives began a day of remembrance five years after the disaster and demanded that authorities finally do justice next year.
With a warm June sun, reminiscent of the day that arose in the burning tower on June 14, 2017, hundreds of grieving relatives gathered at the abbey to mark the passage of a period in which there has been strong community solidarity but also growing anger against the government’s response and lack of criminal prosecution.
The day’s events culminated in a multi-religious service at the base of West London Tower where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge laid a wreath and the children who survived the fire threw 18 balloons, one for each of the children. who died. The craft was followed by a silent march through the surrounding streets.
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Leveling, Housing and Communities, Theresa May, Prime Minister at the time of the fire, Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, and Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Royal District of Kensington and Chelsea, who he owned the block, they were in the abbey while the religious leaders read the names of the dead, a process that lasted almost eight and a half minutes. The surname Choucair echoed around the historic vaults of the abbey six times, the number of family members who died.
Also in attendance were Sir Martin Moore-Bick, chairman of the public inquiry into the disaster, and Jon Snow, who said from the pulpit that “Grenfell speaks of the grotesque inequality with which our society is broken.” He said that if political rhetoric on reducing inequality meant anything, “those responsible must face justice.”
A member of the public holds a white rose during the memorial service. Photo: WPA / Getty Images
The congregation applauded after Imran Khan, a lawyer working for some of the families in the investigation, said the dignitaries gathered were welcome at this year’s memorial service, but revelations from the investigation about what caused the ‘fire had left them without excuses for not doing justice. .
“If you don’t do anything for the next 365 days before the next birthday, I’m sorry to say, it won’t be welcome,” he said.
Among the members of the congregation was Anne Murphy, who lost her brother Denis Murphy. He said his family was “in limbo” awaiting criminal prosecution, which is unlikely until 2024 after the public inquiry reported its findings in 2023. “Getting justice is what keeps us together.” , said Murphy.
There was also Sadik Jamal, who arrived in the UK after losing his sister, brother-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 don’t see things like this happening in other parts of the world. Some of the [government ministers] I’m sorry, but it doesn’t mean anything without justice. “
The service included music played on an oud by Rihab Azar and the singing congregation Abide With Me by Henry Lyte. Grenfell community members and religious leaders placed white roses on the abbey’s innocent victims’ memorial.
Grenfell United, the group of survivors and mourners, said the disaster “was still as painful as then” and warned: “Five years later, another Grenfell is still a very real possibility. This government should be ashamed. of his total inaction and his continued neglect of the 72 lives so unnecessarily lost. “
In a reference to the investigation, which has heard how materials manufacturers took advantage of weaknesses in national safety tests and building regulations to sell combustible materials for high-rise tower blocks, he said: “It is difficult to continue. Day after day for the last five years we have had to feel how corrupt and rotten the system is. “
“I often describe it as having an open wound,” says Grenfell’s victim’s daughter – video
He also referred to a statement in the April investigation by Eric Pickles, a former community secretary who did not tighten fire regulations, although a coroner told him to do so after six people left. died in a coating fire in 2009. Pickles described the “unnamed 96” who died, apparently mixing the disaster with the tragedy in Hillsborough.
“Those in power were called ‘nameless,'” Grenfell United said. “They had no name. They were loved, loved and ours.”
Gove later said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy must never be allowed to happen again and our thoughts are with the families, survivors and mourning residents at this incredibly difficult time.”