Thousands of people gathered outside the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, central London, on Monday evening for a vigil to remember Professor Jason Arday, the former Cambridge professor who died last week. Organisers said more than 30,000 people attended the event, which was organised by campaign group Stand Up to Racism.
During the vigil, Lord Simon Woolley, a friend and peer, told the crowd that Prof Arday was the victim of a “public execution” and a “lynching” by the press. He revealed that his friend had said during a meal just days before he died, “they’re hounding me to death”, adding that he “couldn’t see a way out”.
Friend's tribute and allegations
Lord Woolley said he had dinner with Prof Arday last week, along with MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler, and activist Misan Harriman, because they knew he was struggling. He described how they held him and told him he was loved, but Prof Arday said: “I love you, but”, he said, “they’re hounding me to death, and I cannot see a way out”.
Prof Arday resigned from his post as professor of sociology of education at Cambridge last week after accusations of plagiarism were made against him. The 41-year-old was found dead in Battersea, south London, on Friday. He had become Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023.
Speakers and campaign
Speakers at the vigil included MPs Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler, crossbench peer Lord Woolley, and director of the Good Law Project Jo Maugham. Ms Abbott said Prof Arday was the subject of a “vicious” and “bitter” campaign by people who did not believe a black man should be a Cambridge professor. She added: “From his resignation to his suicide last week, was just three weeks, but the newspapers printed 249 articles about him.”
One attendee held a cardboard sign reading “249 articles in 22 days”, believed to be a reference to analysis by NewsCord, an AI-based media analysis company. More than 90,000 people, including Ms Abbott, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, and presenter Jameela Jamil, have signed a Good Law Project petition seeking an inquiry into coverage of Prof Arday.
Family's message and tributes
The vigil concluded with words from Prof Arday’s family, read by MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy. The family said: “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 mean so much to us.” They added: “Although it is bittersweet, now kindness is needed in life, not just in death.”
The crowd, dressed mostly in black, held flowers and signs reading “Rest in power Jason Arday”, and calls for “justice” rang out through the square. A large sign reading “Racism in the mainstream media is responsible for Jason Arday’s death” moved slowly through the masses. There were performances from singers Beverley Knight and Jermaine Jackman. Flowers were laid at the foot of Nelson’s Column by attendees as they left the square.
