Vigil to be held for Jason Arday as fundraiser for his family reaches £130,000

A Windrush campaigner says the response to a fundraiser launched for Professor Jason Arday’s family shows ‘Britain still cares’. Prof Arday resigned from his post as professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge last week after allegations of plagiarism were made against him. He was found dead at a home in Battersea on Friday. A vigil for the professor, organised by Stand Up To Racism, will be held on the steps of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, central London, at 6pm on Monday. On Saturday, Sir Patrick Vernon, who played a leading role in the successful campaign to establish a national Windrush Day, set up a GoFundMe crowdfunding page, which has collected £130,000 in donations. He said the outpouring of support shows that the public ‘still cares’ and feels ‘angry’. Jason Arday’s death has sparked discussions about press scrutiny, university accountability, and systemic racism. Sir Patrick Vernon, a public figure and Windrush campaigner, highlighted how Prof Arday, described as neurodivergent, faced relentless media scrutiny and criticism despite his vulnerability. He was found dead at home in Battersea. The University of Cambridge has paused its investigation into Prof Arday’s appointment and tenure, citing the family’s grief. Sir Patrick criticised the higher scrutiny faced by Black and minority ethnic individuals across sectors, including the NHS, civil service, and private sector, and called for improved press regulation and accountability. In a message to Prof Arday’s family, Sir Patrick offered financial support, stating: ‘We care for you, we respect you. Here is some money to support you, because you’ve lost someone valuable to you.’ He also urged readers to seek help from mental health services if needed, directing to UK and international helplines. Public figures including Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Lord Simon Woolley signed an open letter supporting Prof Arday, while media attention continued to target his family even after his death.