United for Grenfell!

by Theo Russell

Thousands of people from the local community, trade unionists from London and across Britain, and a contingent from Hammersmith, Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea Trades Council joined a highly emotional, silent march in North Kensington last Friday, two years after 72 people were lost in the Grenfell Tower fire.

There is anger in the local community at the fact that two years on no-one has been held accountable and no arrests have been made. Some survivors are still living in hotels whilst across Britain tens of thousands are still living in unsafe buildings.

The march was joined by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, rappers Stormzy, Lowkey and Akala, firefighters and about 60 ‘Riders for Grenfell’ bikers. There were banners from the Fire Brigades Union, Dundee Trades Council and Barnet Unison.

Speaking before the march, rap artist Akala said: “This tragedy was not an accident, it was the product of a philosophy that says some lives have value and some don’t. People were warned but people ignored those messages.”

The Justice 4 Grenfell Campaign issued a ‘Message of Solidarity’ that said: “We will continue to speak out on the injustices surrounding the fire at Grenfell tower and keep it in the public domain; we will continue to demand that the public inquiry keeps ‘people’ at the heart of the process; we will continue to demand changes in laws and regulations, to prevent another disaster like Grenfell happening; we will continue to make demands so that everyone has a home where they are safe. Your continued support will be critical to this.

“The North Kensington community needs and appreciates your support at this difficult time. We are with our community today. We are standing with Grenfell today and we want to say a heartfelt thank you to you for standing with us too.”

The silent march was held a day before the national Grenfell march from Whitehall to parliament.