Grenfell Tower: fire survivors hold silent walk around charred block to remember the dead
The event, held away from cameras, gives residents a chance to come together and pay their respects
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire and those living within the shadow of the charred block held a silent walk around the scene of the tragedy to honour those who were killed in the fatal blaze.
The event, which was held away from cameras, gave residents a chance to come together and pay their respects.
It was organised by Grenfell United, a collective created for those who fled the inferno in West London.
Samia Badani, chairman of the Bramley House Residents Association, broke away from the march early because it became "difficult" for her.
She said: "The more we walked and came towards the tower, the more memories there were for me and it was very hard.
"Maybe because it was a silent march, I remembered too vividly and it was too much for me."
Ms Badani said the walk, which was attended by up to 50 people, was like a "blanket of security".
She said: "I think it was about getting together and sharing the pain and the experience with people who were there.
"Everyone saw how the community came together straight after it happened and I think this was perhaps because we wanted some of that back."
The walk comes as reports said the cladding system used on Grenfell Tower was approved by a building control officer.
The system passed checks when less than half of the building had been reclad, according to a newsletter distributed to Grenfell residents by the contractor, Rydon, and the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation (KCTMO), the Guardian claimed.
The local council had already said building control officers were onsite 16 times during construction and that all works had been certified as being in line with regulations.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council announced it's next meeting will take place on 19 July - and it will be open to the media.
A public meeting in June was scrapped after then-council leader Nicholas Paget-Brown realised journalists were present.
Meanwhile, cladding reported to have been used on the Grenfell Tower has been found on 44 school buildings in Scotland, officials at Holyrood said.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments