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

Trafalgar Square Vigil Honors Jason Arday as Family Says They Are “Still Coming to Terms”

Ninoda.com – More than 2,000 people gathered in central London’s Trafalgar Square on Monday for a short-notice vigil commemorating the life of Jason Arday, the Cambridge academic found dead at a south London address on 14 August. Organised by the campaign group Stand Up to Racism, the event asked attendees to wear black and bring flowers — instructions many in the crowd followed despite the brief notice period.

The atmosphere was described as sombre yet charged with anger, directed squarely at the press. Arday, aged 41, had become Cambridge University’s youngest black professor upon his 2023 appointment. In the weeks before his death, he endured sustained media scrutiny over plagiarism allegations and questions about his academic record — claims he consistently denied.

Family Statement Read by Bell Ribeiro-Addy

Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy delivered a statement on behalf of Arday’s family, in which they described themselves as “still coming to terms” with his death.

“The public cruelty Jason was subjected to was too much for any man to bear.”

The family went on to note that over the preceding 72 hours, the depth of Arday’s impact on others had become unmistakable. They asked that he be remembered “for the wonderful person he was and all that he achieved,” adding:

“A selfless and gentle soul, he tirelessly uplifted others through his words and actions. His achievements were great and we do not want misrepresentations about his character to overshadow them.”

Speakers at the Vigil

Labour MP Diane Abbott addressed the crowd, characterising the coverage Arday received as a “vicious and bitter media campaign” driven, in her words, by “people who didn’t believe a black man should be a Cambridge professor.”

“He must have felt that if he resigned, the attacks on him would stop. But in fact, they got even worse. This was a campaign against all of us.”

Lord Simon Woolley, principal of Homerton College at the University of Cambridge, relayed that when he met Arday the previous week, the academic told him critics were “hounding me to death.”

Filmmaker and activist Misan Harriman took the stage to condemn the press directly:

“The legacy media crossed every line in the treatment of Jason. Imagine being so lost in the business of cruelty that you relish hurting another human for sport, with your own poison pen. Jason should still be here today.”

Context: Resignation and Death

Arday stepped down from his post as Cambridge professor of sociology of education on 5 August, after the university announced it would examine the circumstances surrounding his appointment. He made clear his departure should not “be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.” Two days after Cambridge confirmed its investigation, his body was discovered in south London.

Political and Institutional Responses

Cambridge’s chancellor, Lord Chris Smith — an ex-Labour MP and former secretary of state for culture, media and sport, as well as a past chairman of the Environment Agency — spoke publicly for the first time about the controversy. He criticised what he called a “racist feeding frenzy” in the weeks preceding Arday’s death while insisting academic integrity could still be upheld.

“I do believe it is possible to hold to two principles at the same time: to believe in the importance of academic integrity, and where criticisms of plagiarism arise, about any academic, whoever they are, ensure that they are rigorously investigated. And also to refuse to join in a racist feeding frenzy over a particular academic.”

Downing Street declined to confirm whether Prime Minister Andy Burnham was weighing an inquiry, stating it was “a moment for reflection” and that “the usual processes,” including an inquest, should run their course.

London Inner South Coroner’s Court confirmed an investigation into the cause of death is underway and may take several weeks. Once concluded, the coroner will determine whether a formal inquest proceeds.

Meanwhile, more than 90,000 people had signed a Good Law Project petition calling for an inquiry into the media’s coverage of Arday. Shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly voiced anger over what happened, arguing that the university establishment broadly — not merely Cambridge — should have “done the robust due diligence and checking” expected before such appointments.