Watch: Grenfell community’s Silent Walk for justice

Last weekend, a silent march commemorated the victims of the tragedy and demanded justice. Pablo Navarrete reports.

Over 1,500 people marched through Kensington, London, in complete silence – and in the dark of the night of Sunday 14 January.

They held large green heart-shaped placards demanding truth, justice, and displayed photographs commemorating their loved ones, whose lives were lost in the fire.

It is exactly seven months since the Grenfell Tower tragedy – in which at least 71 people died as a 24-storey, publicly-owned tower block burned in London in the night of 14 June 2017.

But the community is still active. Residents, activists and sympathisers joined a Silent Walk to voice their anger and demand answers. Firefighters from the Red Watch lined at North Kensington fire station the street as marchers went on, some thanking them – they were the first to arrive at the scene of the fire.

‘We’re going to keep marching until we eventually reach justice for the survivors and the people of this community of Grenfell Tower,’ said Amal Bider, an anti-racism activist.

Zeyad Cred, who organized the Silent Walk and has lived in the area for 30 years, said, ‘In the initial [aftermath] of the tragedy, it was all about relief and help. […] As time has gone on it’s grown into more of a people power.

‘I’ve really seen our community come together like words can’t describe.’

Watch New Internationalist’s video of the march:

Video by Pablo Navarrete.