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| Notting Hill carnival begins with ceremony to remember Grenfell victims | Notting Hill carnival begins with ceremony to remember Grenfell victims |
| (5 months later) | |
| Survivors and residents are joined by Sadiq Khan at multi-faith prayer, with doves released as mark of respect for victims | |
| Kevin Rawlinson | |
| Sun 27 Aug 2017 12.36 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 17.57 GMT | |
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| The victims of the Grenfell disaster have been remembered as Notting Hill carnival got under way in the shadow of the tower. White doves were released into the sky as a mark of respect and a multi-faith prayer was held at the beginning of the UK’s biggest street festival. | The victims of the Grenfell disaster have been remembered as Notting Hill carnival got under way in the shadow of the tower. White doves were released into the sky as a mark of respect and a multi-faith prayer was held at the beginning of the UK’s biggest street festival. |
| The ceremony, held by survivors of the fire and local residents, was described as a “small act of remembrance” at an event taking place within a few hundred metres of the scene of the tragedy. | The ceremony, held by survivors of the fire and local residents, was described as a “small act of remembrance” at an event taking place within a few hundred metres of the scene of the tragedy. |
| Hamid Ali Jafari, whose 82-year-old father, Ali Yawar Jafari, died in the fire, was among those who participated and said he was glad to be at the carnival. Asked how it felt to release one of the doves, he said: “It’s the pain of remembering my dad, because he was there.” | Hamid Ali Jafari, whose 82-year-old father, Ali Yawar Jafari, died in the fire, was among those who participated and said he was glad to be at the carnival. Asked how it felt to release one of the doves, he said: “It’s the pain of remembering my dad, because he was there.” |
| The survivors were joined by the new leader of the local council, which has been heavily criticised for its handling of the disaster, and the Labour MP Emma Dent Coad, in whose parliamentary constituency it took place. She addressed the audience, calling them the “Grenfell generation”. | The survivors were joined by the new leader of the local council, which has been heavily criticised for its handling of the disaster, and the Labour MP Emma Dent Coad, in whose parliamentary constituency it took place. She addressed the audience, calling them the “Grenfell generation”. |
| Dent Coad said: “Today is a day to set aside our burden of sadness, and enjoy some real joy with our families, our friends and our amazing community, which the world now knows about – though it’s always been here, we know that. | Dent Coad said: “Today is a day to set aside our burden of sadness, and enjoy some real joy with our families, our friends and our amazing community, which the world now knows about – though it’s always been here, we know that. |
| “Today, carnival is for you. Set aside your sadness and worries, smile, dance and sing along. And we will have the most wonderful, musical, colourful and lovable carnival ever. Remember you are the Grenfell generation, and you are special.” | “Today, carnival is for you. Set aside your sadness and worries, smile, dance and sing along. And we will have the most wonderful, musical, colourful and lovable carnival ever. Remember you are the Grenfell generation, and you are special.” |
| London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, met some of the survivors in a specially reserved area, shaking their hands and hearing about their housing situations 10 weeks after the fire. | London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, met some of the survivors in a specially reserved area, shaking their hands and hearing about their housing situations 10 weeks after the fire. |
| “Over this carnival weekend, we pledge to redouble our efforts to support this community,” he told the crowd. | “Over this carnival weekend, we pledge to redouble our efforts to support this community,” he told the crowd. |
| “We make sure we have in our thoughts and our prayers all of those affected by the awful Grenfell Tower tragedy. Part of that pledge is making sure we get justice, we find out exactly what happened, we make sure those responsible are held to account, and also so this never, ever, ever happens again.” | “We make sure we have in our thoughts and our prayers all of those affected by the awful Grenfell Tower tragedy. Part of that pledge is making sure we get justice, we find out exactly what happened, we make sure those responsible are held to account, and also so this never, ever, ever happens again.” |
| Elizabeth Campbell, who took over as leader of the council after Nick Paget-Brown resigned, was among those to release a dove into the air. | Elizabeth Campbell, who took over as leader of the council after Nick Paget-Brown resigned, was among those to release a dove into the air. |
| The bishop of Kensington, the Right Rev Dr Graham Tomlin, helped lead the prayers at the official opening ceremony of the two-day event. He offered three prayers of hope, harmony and healing. | The bishop of Kensington, the Right Rev Dr Graham Tomlin, helped lead the prayers at the official opening ceremony of the two-day event. He offered three prayers of hope, harmony and healing. |
| “My prayer is that, in these two days, God will give us his rest, his hope, his harmony and his ear.” | “My prayer is that, in these two days, God will give us his rest, his hope, his harmony and his ear.” |
| The crowd fell silent during a performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water by Brenda Emmanuel. Another musical tribute, by Alexander D Great, included the lines: “Pray for mothers, pray for babies, pray for all whose cries are in our ears.” | The crowd fell silent during a performance of Bridge Over Troubled Water by Brenda Emmanuel. Another musical tribute, by Alexander D Great, included the lines: “Pray for mothers, pray for babies, pray for all whose cries are in our ears.” |
| Handmade green hearts and streamers adorned the judging area, while spectators were decked out in green following a campaign encouraging people to go “green for Grenfell”, which organisers said they hoped would symbolise “reverence and respect amidst the revelry”. | Handmade green hearts and streamers adorned the judging area, while spectators were decked out in green following a campaign encouraging people to go “green for Grenfell”, which organisers said they hoped would symbolise “reverence and respect amidst the revelry”. |
| Posters have been put up at spots where the tower can be seen, asking the public not to take photographs “at the site of our great loss” – an activity that has distressed locals. | Posters have been put up at spots where the tower can be seen, asking the public not to take photographs “at the site of our great loss” – an activity that has distressed locals. |
| At 3pm on both Sunday and Monday, the crowds are expected to pause and observe a minute’s silence. In the quiet reflection zone, performers have been encouraged to lower their music volume and walk respectfully in memory of those who died in the inferno. Police have also said a dedicated area will be available for people to leave tributes without obstructing the carnival flow. | At 3pm on both Sunday and Monday, the crowds are expected to pause and observe a minute’s silence. In the quiet reflection zone, performers have been encouraged to lower their music volume and walk respectfully in memory of those who died in the inferno. Police have also said a dedicated area will be available for people to leave tributes without obstructing the carnival flow. |
| Notting Hill carnival | |
| Grenfell Tower fire | |
| London | |
| Festivals | |
| news | |
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