Racism to blame for Grenfell fire death toll, claim families
LAWYERS have compared the Grenfell Tower inferno to the death of black American George Floyd as they blamed racial discrimination for the tragedy’s 72 deaths.
They said race was the Grenfell inquiry’s “elephant in the room” and urged the panel to investigate why so many of those killed were black or from ethnic minorities when flames tore through the 24-storey block in 2017.
Mr Floyd’s death in the US after a policeman knelt on the back of his neck for almost nine minutes sparked a wave of Black Lives Matter protests across the world.
Yesterday Leslie Thomas, QC, claimed the tragedy had “parallels” with the disproportionate number of black and minority ethnic (BAME) victims of Grenfell and the Covid-10 crisis.
Mr Thomas, who represents a group of survivors and bereaved families, told the Grenfell inquiry: “George Floyd’s last words were, ‘I can’t breathe’. These were a chilling reminder of the experiences of survivors and sadly were some of the last words of those who died in this tragedy.
“Some of the survivors and the bereaved have highlighted the similarities of the last words of a black man who died at the hands of the state to the last words of their friends and loved ones.
“Most of them were from ethnic minority backgrounds. The Grenfell fire did not happen in a vacuum. A majority of the Grenfell residents who died were people of colour.”
Mr Thomas continued: “Grenfell is inextricably linked with race. It is the elephant in the room.”
He asked panel chairman
Leslie Thomas, QC, speaking out yesterday
Sir Martin Moore-Bick: “What will this inquiry be remembered for? You will undoubtedly want it to be on the right side of history.
“Our clients’ perception is that the inquiry is deaf to their concerns.”
Meanwhile, six law firms submitted a detailed document which claims a failure to investigate the racial element could be a breach of the victims’ human rights.
They said that out of the 67 permanent Grenfell residents who died in the fire 57 – or
Grenfell Tower, where 72 lost their lives
85 per cent – were BAME backgrounds.
The submission, backed by senior counsel including Michael Mansfield, QC, said the inquiry should ask whether the tower was badly maintained because so many BAME people lived there.
Cyrilia Davies Knight of Saunders solicitors said: “It is time to break the circle of inaction. Race and poverty must no longer be ignored by the Grenfell Tower inquiry.
“The numbers show that people from minority ethnic from groups were substantially over-represented among the Grenfell Tower tenants, most importantly among those who were injured or killed.”
Trinidad-born survivor Joseph John said after the hearing: “The racism is all in housing and the way you have to jump through hoops to get what you want.
“I just get pushed from one place to the next without people listening. My friends who are white have a much better experience.”
The inquiry continues.