Liverpool has commemorated the 35th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy with a range of events. The Lord Mayor, Cllr Mary Rasmussen, and Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, laid flowers at the Hillsborough Memorial at Anfield on Monday 15 April. Later, a minute’s silence was held outside Liverpool Town Hall at 3.06pm; the exact time at which the fateful match was stopped.
The bells of St. Nicholas Church then tolled 96 times, one for each of the Liverpool fans who died in the stadium crush. The vigil was organised by the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, which calls for those responsible for the catastrophe to be held accountable. The names of the 96 people who lost their lives were then read out at St George’s Hall Plateau.
The artwork “Band of Life” by sculptor Tom Murphy, which was unveiled in memory of those who died at Hillsborough, was also visited by fans and officials. On the four sides of a column, the sculpture features Liver Birds, flames, people holding hands, and different emblems related to football. Finally, flags were flown at half-mast from civic buildings across Liverpool, with the Town Hall lit up red after dark.
The disaster occurred on 15th April, 1989, during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Inquiries into the deaths and subsequent police behavior established that the fans were not to blame for the tragedy. An inquest into the deaths led to a verdict of unlawful killing on each of the 96 deceased supporters
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