Jason Arday's family 'still coming to terms' with his death as vigil held

The family of Jason Arday is still grappling with his untimely death, as they held a vigil in Trafalgar Square. Arday, who became Cambridge University's youngest black professor in 2023, had been the subject of media scrutiny over plagiarism allegations. Despite denying the claims, Arday faced intense public cruelty, which left his family emotionally drained.

Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy read a statement on behalf of Arday's family, expressing their profound grief and emphasizing that they want Arday to be remembered for his character and achievements.

During the vigil, several speakers, including Labour MP Diane Abbott and filmmaker Misan Harriman, criticized the media's treatment of Arday. They highlighted a vicious and bitter media campaign aimed at portraying him as unworthy of his position as a Cambridge professor. Arday's family emphasized that they wished for him to be remembered for the wonderful person he was and all that he achieved. The vigil, organized by the group Stand Up to Racism, attracted over 2,000 attendees, many of them wearing black in solidarity.

Cambridge University initially cleared Arday of plagiarism allegations, but an independent investigation by LJMU and the journals in question later debunked the claims. Arday resigned from his position as a Cambridge professor on August 5th, stating that his resignation should not be seen as an acceptance of the negative narratives surrounding him. The family emphasized that they wanted Arday to be remembered for his selfless and gentle nature, as well as the great achievements that he had made.