Grenfell United

Akala, Stormzy and other artists join Grenfell United in call for national change, marking 18 months

Join support.grenfellunited.org Eighteen months on from the Grenfell tower fire that killed 72 people in central London, stars including Stormzy, Adele, Marcus Mumford and Akala have joined with Grenfell United, the survivors, and families bereaved by the fire in an appeal for national change. Latest stats from Government show 441 buildings still have dangerous Grenfell-style cladding on them and there have been no reforms to social housing after residents’ concerns about safety were ignored by the local council and social housing provider in the years leading up to the fire. Karim Mussilhy, vice-chair of Grenfell United said: “We are approaching the second Christmas since our loved ones died at Grenfell but we’ve seen little change on the ground and people around the country are still living in buildings with dangerous cladding. Too often, people in social housing are treated with indifference by people who have a duty to care for them. “Dangerous cladding needs to be taken off buildings and we need a new regulator for social housing to reform the system so people are listened to and treated with respect. “We lost our loved ones but it’s not too late for others. We can’t sit back while there is a risk another tragedy like Grenfell could happen again - that’s why we’re fighting for national change.” The video - produced by survivors and bereaved group Grenfell United - brought together over 50 survivors and bereaved relatives with community supporters for the special shoot. Opening the video, Stormzy says: ‘this is not a charity film, it is a clarity film’. Families and supporters say: ‘We are not asking for money, we are not asking for sympathy, we are demanding change. Change so families up and down country are safe in their homes.Change so that people, no matter where they live, are treated with dignity and respect.’ The appeal comes at the end of the last week of Phase One of the Grenfell Inquiry. Lawyers representing survivors and bereaved families said there was more than enough evidence to say that 72 people were unlawfully killed and urged the Chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick to deliver ‘a fearless reckoning’ and call out the companies and organisations responsible for disastrous refurbishment of Grenfell Tower. Karim continues: “The Grenfell Inquiry has already shown beyond doubt that our families were neglected, ignored and given cheap materials that turned theirs homes into a death trap. 72 people were unlawfully killed and people across the country are still living in unsafe buildings, change can not wait.” The survivors and bereaved are calling on the public to join their campaign for safe housing at: support.grenfellunited.org.