Jason Arday’s family condemns ‘public cruelty’ as thousands gather at vigil in his memory

Jason Arday’s family said the “public cruelty” he faced was “too much for any man to bear” as thousands gathered at a vigil in his memory in Trafalgar Square on Monday.

The vigil concluded with words from Professor Arday’s family, read by Labour MP for Clapham & Brixton Hill Bell Ribeiro Addy, reflecting on the “incredibly painful time” the family had gone through over “the past 72 hours”.

Professor Arday was found dead at a property in Battersea on Friday afternoon after he resigned from his post as professor of sociology of education last week following a widely-publicised plagiarism row.

People gathered to Trafalgar Square in central London to remember the professor in a vigil organised by campaign group Stand Up to Racism. MPs Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn could be seen in attendance alongside Misan Harriman.

Organisers said more than 30,000 people gathered outside the National Gallery on Monday evening to pay tribute to the former Cambridge professor.

Responding to the vigil, his family shared a message of gratitude for the outpour of grief from the public.

“This has been an incredibly painful time for our family, and we are still coming to terms with the tragic loss of our beloved Jason. What has become clear over the past 72 hours is the profound impact he had on people.

“We are grateful to all who have created light in this dark time through kindness, generosity and solidarity. Your presence here to remember him this evening means a lot to us, and while we cannot be there in person, please know that we stand with you in spirit.

“The public cruelty Jason was subjected to was too much for any man to bear. The outpouring of love, support and grief since his death means so much to us, although it is bittersweet. Kindness is needed in life, not just in death. We'll never know what might have been different had he experienced more of it while he was still here.”

Professor Arday, who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, was subjected to intense public scrutiny over the plagiarism allegations and questions about his achievements.

The British press has faced particular criticism for publishing almost 250 articles in three weeks over the plagiarism row faced by Professor Arday.

His friend and peer Lord Simon Woolley told the vigil the academic had been the victim of a “public execution”.

Lord Woolley reflected on a dinner he’d had with the academic alongside Ms Abbott and Mr Harriman.

“We held him in our arms. We told him he was loved. He held Diane’s (Abbott) hands, and he said, ‘I love you, but’, he said, ‘they’re hounding me to death, and I cannot see a way out’.”