As a 23 year old, I wasn't even alive when it all happened. I was 9 years old when I started supporting Liverpool back in 2002. Back then, there weren't many news reports about the disaster where I live and I was too young to understand all the political and judicial stuff going on. After watching the Hillsborough Memorial Service as a teenager in 2009, it hit me. I started to understand how big it really was and how much it really meant to everyone involved.
Half a year ago I started reading and watching everything I could find about Hillsborough. News reports, newspaper articles, online reports, documentaries, threads on this forum... The extent of the cover-up is just mind-boggling. I just can't get my head around it. How can any human being do something like that? How did they live with themselves for so many years? Why would they let so many people go through hell for such a long time just to cover their own asses, knowing the truth? It's absolutely disgusting.
I just finished watching the documentary with my younger brother a few hours ago. Apparently the average age of those who died was 24. My brother and I are both in that age category and it feels really weird. So many people died doing what they loved, supporting their club, the club we all love. It's the connection we all have with the 96. My mother came home from work and saw me sitting in the couch. She instantly asked me why I looked so angry. We sat down and I told her everything I know about Hillsborough, trying to hold back my tears. As a law student I feel somewhat ashamed. Ashamed that I might be part of a system, albeit in another country, that failed so many people for so long.
It also fills me with great sadness, that a lot of people who fought so hard for the 96, aren't here to see the results of their hard work. Anne Williams comes to mind... What an amazing, strong woman. I'm proud to be a Liverpool supporter, proud to be a little part of such a big, warm and strong community that held its stand for so long, that never gave up.
I also signed the petition and forwarded it to the few Liverpool fans I know.
Justice for the 96 - They'll never walk alone.
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