Jason Arday's family 'still coming to terms' with his death as supporters attend vigil

Key Points:

• Jason Arday's family expressed they are "still coming to terms" with his death during a vigil held in Trafalgar Square, condemning the intense media scrutiny and public cruelty he faced amid plagiarism allegations, which he denied.
• Arday, Cambridge University's youngest black professor appointed in 2023, resigned shortly before his death after the university announced an investigation into his career, but maintained his innocence.
• The vigil, attended by over 2,000 people and organized by Stand Up to Racism, featured speeches criticizing the media's treatment of Arday, with figures like Labour MP Diane Abbott and Lord Simon Woolley highlighting racial bias and the damaging impact of the media campaign.
• Cambridge University's chancellor condemned the "racist feeding frenzy" around Arday, emphasizing the need to balance academic integrity with fair and respectful treatment, while a petition calling for an inquiry into media coverage has gained over 90,000 signatures.
• An official investigation into Arday's cause of death is ongoing, with the coroner to decide if an inquest will be held; political figures have called for reflection on the university's role and the possible racial motivations behind the media coverage.