Justice for the 21

[Scratchins]

This is my 1st post and I apologise to anyone who thinks that it should be more Villa related but I feel strongly about this issue.
Hundreds of people were far more affected than me but on the night of November 21st 1974 our 9 year old niece stayed over while her mom went into Birmingham city centre with friends. We could not contact her and spent a sleepless night; there were tears when mom opened the door next morning.  A young girl at work spent the day crying, her dad had grounded her and stopped her from going to the Mulberry Bush the night before, friends had died.
21 people were killed that night, Villa and Blues supporters amongst them.
Some of their children are still fans, with allegiances still divided between both teams.
Relatives of those who died are currently battling to get funding to be legally represented at a new inquest, which they hope will uncover the truth behind the attacks.
But the Government has refused to fund them on the same basis that the relatives of those who died in the Hillsborough disaster were supported.
Campaigners hope to persuade both sets of fans to join in a minute’s applause in the 21st minute of the game between Birmingham City and Aston Villa on Sunday, October 30.
I hope that we can show that when our own need help, we can come together as a city for 1 minute.

[beness]

I heard Andy Burnham ask a Question at pmqs this week. He asked if the relatives of the deceased would get public funding to fight for justice.

 He cited that the West Midlands Police were getting tax payer funding to fight their case.
 
 Theresa may indicated that the Victims families would also get public funding but she was not clear about How.

 IE: if their are various solicitors representing groups of families I dont know how the money will be distributed.

 I wish you well and hope we get some answers.

[beness]

Just as a follow up Andy Burnhams question is here.

at minute 41.00

[amfy]

I think there is a movement on social media and the local press for a 21st minute applause and it is one that I hope happens. It's the right time and place for it.

[django]

I interviewed one of the survivors of the bombing in 2012. She said it hadn't really effected her life, but then mentioned that she still didn't travel into the city centre and avoided any public places. It was like she was still in shock all those years later.

[appyarryampton]

 I will be joining in the minutes applause.
More importantly, I hope you get the answers you are looking for.

[clash city rocker]

I will join in the applause and I sincerely hope it will get 100% backing in the ground. The families of the dead and injured have been fobbed off for far too long. I don't think justice will ever be done but if the families can at least get some honest answers then it may help them a little. Puts football and local rivalries into perspective.

[Witton Warrior]

I was wondering when we might get involved in a 21st minute thing for the '21' - about bloody time and all power to it!

[auntiesledd]

I think there is a movement on social media and the local press for a 21st minute applause and it is one that I hope happens. It's the right time and place for it.

It is the time & place for it, so I hope everybody in the ground puts their hands together & sings 'Justice for the 21' with everything they've got. Sod rivalry when a common cause is way, way bigger than that. Here's to justice, finally.

[dave shelley]

Justice for the 21.  May this campaign never be allowed to fade.  These families need and deserve answers.

[Hookeysmith]

How do we get the message across to the Blues fans?

It would be a great show of unity but I fear that at the extreme ends of both our fan bases there is a level of hatred beyond comprehension that would only see a "win" for the other side

I really hope for once this can be forgotten for a single minute of unity

[amfy]

I am sure Blues fans will hear it down all the same routes as us and it's a cross city thing, not a Villa thing, so they are likely to share similar sentiments on it I would have thought.

[SoccerHQ]

I agree, I don't think they'll be any problem getting a good round of applause and maybe even a chant going in that minute as long as it's widely promoted.

[Nev]

The 'noses are aware of this so it's well publicised.

[Sunny Villa]

About time