Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FRHistS

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square, London, to remember and pay tribute to former Cambridge professor Jason Arday, who died aged 41. The vigil, organised by Stand Up to Racism, brought together around 30,000 mourners, including friends, colleagues, campaigners and politicians.

Many attendees wore black, carried flowers and held signs reading “Rest in power”. Speakers remembered Arday as a passionate academic, mentor and advocate who worked to make academia more accessible to people from marginalised backgrounds. His mentoring and support helped inspire dozens of students to pursue PhDs and academic careers.

The vigil also addressed the intense scrutiny Arday faced in the weeks before his death. He had recently resigned from his role at Cambridge following plagiarism allegations, which he rejected, alongside questions about claims relating to his career and achievements. Several speakers questioned the scale of the media coverage and called for greater accountability around the treatment he received.

His mentor Simon Woolley recalled seeing Arday shortly before his death, saying they knew he was struggling and had told him that he was loved. Other speakers called for reflection on racism, institutional responsibility and the duty of care owed to vulnerable people.

The evening also featured musical performances from Beverley Knight and Jermain Jackman, who performed a version of Fix You at the request of Arday’s family.

In a statement read at the vigil, Arday’s family thanked people for the overwhelming support they had received while asking for privacy as they grieve. Their message was simple: kindness is needed in life, not just in death.