Thousands mourn Jason Arday in London vigil, blaming racism and media pressure

Thousands of people gathered in central London's Trafalgar Square for a vigil honoring former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, with many blaming racism and intense media scrutiny for his death last week.

The vigil occurred as the head of Cambridge University condemned what he called a "racist feeding frenzy" that arose from plagiarism claims leveled against Mr. Arday. Professor Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, was found dead on Friday at the age of 41. His death followed mounting accusations that he had plagiarized parts of his doctoral thesis and exaggerated aspects of his personal life.

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refuse to join in a racist feeding frenzy over a particular academic

Chris Smith, the University of Cambridge's chancellor, stated that while he believed such claims warranted rigorous investigation, he also found it appropriate to "refuse to join in a racist feeding frenzy over a particular academic." Mr. Arday had disputed the allegations. In a public resignation letter on August 5, he wrote that he had "reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure."

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reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.

Police have stated that Mr. Arday's death was not suspicious and that they are preparing a file for the coroner. Diane Abbott, the first black woman elected to the UK Parliament, addressed the rally, organized by the campaign group Stand Up To Racism, recalling she had seen Mr. Arday a week prior.

Stand Up To Racism claimed approximately 30,000 people attended the rally, though this figure could not be independently confirmed. Many attendees wore black, carried roses and sunflowers, and displayed banners reading 'Rest in power Professor Jason Arday.' Claire Lynch, a retired teacher, expressed horror at what happened to Mr. Arday, describing him as having been "hounded." An online fundraising page established by racial equality campaigner Patrick Vernon to support Mr. Arday's family had raised over £174,000 by Monday evening. Separately, a petition demanding an immediate public inquiry into the media coverage of Mr. Arday had garnered over 90,000 signatures.

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hounded