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| Grenfell Tower inquiry: Fire 'inextricably linked with race' | Grenfell Tower inquiry: Fire 'inextricably linked with race' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Grenfell Tower fire inquiry "must not ignore" the impact of race and poverty on the disaster, a lawyer representing survivors has said. | The Grenfell Tower fire inquiry "must not ignore" the impact of race and poverty on the disaster, a lawyer representing survivors has said. |
| Leslie Thomas QC, who is also representing bereaved families, said the 2017 fire was "inextricably linked with race". | |
| And he urged the inquiry to be on the "right side of history" when considering how the issue contributed towards the deaths of the 72 victims. | And he urged the inquiry to be on the "right side of history" when considering how the issue contributed towards the deaths of the 72 victims. |
| The inquiry returned this week after a four-month break due to coronavirus. | The inquiry returned this week after a four-month break due to coronavirus. |
| "The Grenfell fire did not happen in a vacuum," said Mr Thomas in his opening statement. | "The Grenfell fire did not happen in a vacuum," said Mr Thomas in his opening statement. |
| "A majority of the Grenfell residents who died were people of colour. | "A majority of the Grenfell residents who died were people of colour. |
| "Grenfell is inextricably linked with race. It is the elephant in the room. | "Grenfell is inextricably linked with race. It is the elephant in the room. |
| "This disaster happened in a pocket of one of the smallest yet richest boroughs in London. | "This disaster happened in a pocket of one of the smallest yet richest boroughs in London. |
| "Yet the community affected was predominantly working-class. That is the stark reality that cannot be ignored." | "Yet the community affected was predominantly working-class. That is the stark reality that cannot be ignored." |
| The Grenfell Next of Kin group has called for the inquiry to "investigate the extent of institutional racism as a factor" in the fire in June 2017. | The Grenfell Next of Kin group has called for the inquiry to "investigate the extent of institutional racism as a factor" in the fire in June 2017. |
| Legal submissions made to the inquiry explain there were four visitors to the tower among the dead and also stillborn Baby Logan Gomes and then adds: "Of the remaining 67, 57 were from BAME (black, Asian and other ethnic minority) communities. | Legal submissions made to the inquiry explain there were four visitors to the tower among the dead and also stillborn Baby Logan Gomes and then adds: "Of the remaining 67, 57 were from BAME (black, Asian and other ethnic minority) communities. |
| "In the English Housing Survey 2017-2018, it was found that 40% of those living in high-rise buildings in the social rented sector are black, Asian or other. This, compared to the per cent of the population (14%), is high." | "In the English Housing Survey 2017-2018, it was found that 40% of those living in high-rise buildings in the social rented sector are black, Asian or other. This, compared to the per cent of the population (14%), is high." |
| Mr Thomas told the inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick: "This is your time of action to break the cycle of disengagement with the issue of race and inequality. | Mr Thomas told the inquiry chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick: "This is your time of action to break the cycle of disengagement with the issue of race and inequality. |
| "What will this inquiry be remembered for? You will undoubtedly want it to be on the right side of history." | "What will this inquiry be remembered for? You will undoubtedly want it to be on the right side of history." |
| On Monday, the inquiry heard how a senior fire safety engineer did not think putting cladding on Grenfell Tower would pose any "issues" for safety. | On Monday, the inquiry heard how a senior fire safety engineer did not think putting cladding on Grenfell Tower would pose any "issues" for safety. |
| In its first phase, the inquiry concluded that cladding fuelled the fire in June 2017. The second phase is examining how it could have happened in the first place. | In its first phase, the inquiry concluded that cladding fuelled the fire in June 2017. The second phase is examining how it could have happened in the first place. |