They were the last words uttered by some of the 72 victims in their final calls to loved ones before perishing in the fire at Grenfell Tower
But they were also the last words spoken by George Floyd, whose death at the hands of police in Minneapolis, US, ignited theLeslie Thomas QC, representing a group of survivors and bereaved families, opened the court proceedings today by saying the issue of race was the ‘elephant in the room’.He said: ‘The Grenfell fire did not happen in a vacuum… A majority of the Grenfell residents who died were people of colour.
‘Yet the community affected was predominantly working class. That is the stark reality that cannot be ignored. The impact of race and poverty on this disaster this inquiry must not ignore.’The Grenfell Next of Kin group has called for the inquiry to ‘investigate the extent of institutional racism as a factor’ in the tragedy June 2017.
According to legal submissions to the inquiry: ‘Four of the 72 people who lost their lives were visiting the Tower.‘In the English Housing Survey 2017-2018, it was found that 40% of those living in high rise buildings in the social rented sector are black, Asian or other. This, compared to the percent of the population , is high.’
Mr Thomas told the inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick: ‘I place this charge to this inquiry. You, sir and your panel, this is your time of action to break the cycle of disengagement with the issue of race and inequality. ‘What will this inquiry be remembered for? You will undoubtedly want it to be on the right side of history.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Two paramedics knifed in chest on 999 call starred in reality TV seriesParamedics Deena Evans and Michael Hipgrave, who starred in the reality TV series Inside the Ambulance, were called to help a man at a home in Wolverhampton when they both knifed, with witnesses hearing 'a blood-curdling scream'
Read more »
Harry Styles Is Narrating Bedtime Stories For The Calm AppHarry Styles Has Teamed Up With The Calm App To Narrate Relaxing Bedtime Stories
Read more »
Harry Styles is narrating bedtime stories for the Calm appI can't think of anything I'd rather listen to
Read more »
Harry Styles is narrating bedtime stories for the Calm appI can't think of anything I'd rather listen to
Read more »
Harry Styles is narrating sleep stories for Calm and fans are going wild for itDoes Harry_Styles talking you to sleep sound appealing to you? 😴
Read more »
Grenfell inquiry hears cladding posed 'no fire safety issues' in 2012First sitting since mid-March told of decisions made prior to tower refurbishment
Read more »