Thousands gather to pay tribute to Jason Arday at vigil as family speaks out
- More than 30,000 people gathered at a vigil in Trafalgar Square to honour former Cambridge academic Professor Jason Arday following his tragic death.
- Professor Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest Black professor in 2023, died after resigning amidst intense media scrutiny and nearly 250 newspaper articles regarding a plagiarism row.
- In a statement read at the vigil, his family condemned the “public cruelty” he was subjected to and called for greater kindness, respect and grace.
- Prominent figures, including MP Diane Abbott and Lord Simon Woolley addressed the crowd, with Lord Woolley stating the academic was the victim of a “public execution.”
- A petition demanding an inquiry into the media coverage has surpassed 90,000 signatures, while a crowdfunding page has raised more than £170,000.
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