Tonight, at 6:30pm there is going to be a candle-lit vigil to remember victims of the horrific Grenfell Tower fire which happened exactly one year ago today.
"This vigil has been called to commemorate the one year anniversary of the fire that tragically killed over eighty people and destroyed the homes and memories of the residents of the Grenfell Tower block in West London" states the Salford TUC, which is organising the event "Salford Trade Union Council will be gathering to pay our respects to the victims and their families in a show of solidarity."
Speakers will include Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey and the Bishop of Manchester, David Walker.
The site of the vigil is also opposite Spruce Court and Thorn Court, and near the seven other Pendleton Together blocks owned by Salford City Council that still have the dangerous cladding on most of the exteriors.
While we remember Grenfell, here are the voices of local residents still living with the dangerous cladding in blocks all over the city, as told to the Salford Star over the last twelve months...
"This is terrifying. We could all choke to death or be burnt alive at any time! I want out but I have nowhere else to go..."
"I'm aghast that all these months down the line, they are still saying they haven't found a suitable replacement...I can't believe that nearly a year after the Grenfell Tower fire they haven't come up with a solution..."
"We've got men flying around in space and they can't put a fireproof protection on the outside of our flats. I sleep nervously at night. I'm living with paranoia."
"I'm traumatised because I seen people being burnt alive at Grenfell...and they're saying everything is alright and we should just stay there – what right have they to say that?"
"After Grenfell I couldn't sleep, I was scared...They're forcing people to stay in the building because they know if they let people move there'll be an exodus, there'll be no-one there; that's why they are stopping people like me from leaving."
"Residents are living in fear because the cladding is still on their buildings..."
"Surely it is the right of any human being to know they have a safe and secure place to live in".
"We have in the two 22 floor towers, families with kids, old and disabled on the higher floors. Whatever has possessed you to leave us till god knows when...You have had a year to sort it out...Our lives mean f-all. God help you if we ever have a fire while waiting for you to take this deadly material off our homes. It's disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful..."
Vigil For Grenfell Tower Fire Victims
Thursday 14th June 6:30pm
Cross Lane Junction, by McDonald's, off the Crescent
See also Salford Star article from one year ago – click here
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
