Feature: Anger of Grenfell fire survivors, community continues as gov't broadens inquiry - Xinhua

People take part in a silent and peaceful march to pay respects to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in London, Britain, on Aug. 14, 2017. At least 80 people were confirmed dead or missing in the deadly Grenfell Tower blaze on June 14. (Xinhua/Stephen Chung)

by Peter Barker

LONDON, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Beneath the burnt carcase of the Grenfell Tower block in West London, survivors and the members of the local community are still angry, shocked and demanding action.

The blaze two months ago at the 24-story social-housing tower block in the West London district of Kensington and Chelsea claimed the lives of at least 80 people.

Now, survivors and the local community are fighting for justice. Each month on the day of the fire they hold a silent protest march to keep their case in the public eye.

The pressure on the British government is such that it has ordered an inquiry, but survivors are not satisfied.

On Tuesday, the government bowed to public pressure and widened the terms of the inquiry to include the actions of authorities before the disaster, the government has announced.

The inquiry will now look at the cause of the fire, the design and refurbishment of the tower, emergency services response, central and local government responses, and the effectiveness of relevant legislation.

SILENT PROTEST MARCH

Xinhua went to the latest silent march on Monday evening, which runs through the streets in the shadow of the tower in a somber procession.

More than 800 people turned up in the early evening, with many survivors, local residents and supporters.

Typical of those who came was Katie, a singer and songwriter in her late 20s.

Katie said that she was a volunteer at a Salvation Army group in Ladbroke Grove, not far from the Grenfell Tower.

She told of a friend who escaped the fire, and was now living in a hotel. "He has flashbacks," said Katie, adding that he was receiving therapy help.

Katie said that community groups had all helped survivors in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

"We had families at the center. I went and helped sorting out clothes donations."

"The Salvation Army really helped out. They had families in there; there was lots of food donated; there was counselling; they were also packaging up clothes for survivors," said Katie.

LOCAL COMMUNITY'S HELP

Michael Long is the vicar of Notting Hill Methodist Church, within sight of the burnt tower.

"The community is still two months afterwards hurt, angry, frustrated, exhausted, fed up and grieving," he told Xinhua.

Those strong, confused and complex emotions will be with the community for a long time.

"Part of that is the process of coming to terms with the tragedy. Part of that is a response of how quickly the people are housed, how well people are treated, how well they think they are being listened to, the process of the inquiry and the recovery process (for bodies), and how the building will be treated," said Long.

"Most people are holding up well and this is going to be a very long haul of years... They need time to mourn and for the community to change and develop."

Long and his faith community were involved in help from the beginning, and he saw the efforts of other voluntary organizations and other faith groups, like Muslims.

"In the first few days and weeks faith groups, not just Christians but including Muslims, joined together and provided lots of help...money and advice."

Long echoed a continued refrain from those involved in help work -- where was the local authority in the aftermath of the fire? What help did it give?

"Particularly in the first few days there was no advice, no coordination from the local authority," said Long.

LOCAL AUTHORITY CRITICIZED

The failure of the local authority to adequately help survivors and residents of the area affected by the blaze drew international criticism.

The local municipal authority, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council (RBKC), was strongly criticized nationally and internationally, for its failure to adequately help. For example, in a borough with many empty mansions of extremely rich people and many hotels with rooms, survivors were initially housed on the floors of local gymnasiums.

Angry survivors heckled Prime Minister Theresa May when she bungled several visits to the area, failing to meet survivors or residents in public. When she did meet survivors behind the closed doors of a district church, it was behind doors and in private. Angry protesters made it difficult for her to leave.

Katie, like many of those involved in support in the aftermath of the fire and also many of the survivors, has little time for the authorities.

"The council were rubbish. They did not do anything. They were an absolute disgrace. It was the people who did everything," said Katie.

DEMANDING FOR JUSTICE

For resident Chris Imafidon, there is still much to be angry about.

He joined the silent march, and at its conclusion beneath the concrete pillars of the Westway urban motorway which strides across the area within sight of the Grenfell Tower, he was among a dozen or so local residents and survivors who spoke eloquently and with passion in an impromptu series of addresses.

"We want to be treated like human beings; we want to be given the bodies and ashes of our loved ones," Imafidon said to the crowd.

"No justice, no peace," he shouted in a refrain which the crowd took up.

There seems to be no way that this community is going to be willing to let go of the issues raised by the Grenfell Tower fire. They are angry and they want answers.

Community organizers and survivors told Xinhua they would continue to march each month on the day of the fire and continue to speak out for justice.

"We will continue to be here. We don't want this to happen again. We want the truth to come out -- love peace, love justice," said Sid, a man in his early 30s who barely escaped the fire in the tower.