The tragic death of Jason Arday has sparked an outpouring of support, with a Windrush campaigner saying that Britain still cares. Arday, a professor of sociology of education at the University of Cambridge, was found dead on Friday, just days after resigning amid allegations of plagiarism. The public response has been swift, with a fundraiser launched by Sir Patrick Vernon raising over £160,000.
Outpouring of Support for Jason Arday's Family
The GoFundMe page, set up by Sir Patrick Vernon, a leading Windrush campaigner, has collected more than £160,000 to support Arday's young family. Vernon told the Press Association that the public's reaction shows that people, regardless of background, are angry and care about the situation. "Britain still cares – people, black, white, brown, care and feel angry about the situation," he said. "People want to support the family because he's dead, he's died and he has a young family."
Vigil and Open Letter
A vigil for the professor, organized by Stand Up to Racism, will be held on the steps of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square at 6pm on Monday. Meanwhile, an open letter to Andy Burnham demanding a public inquiry into the media reporting of the case has gathered more than 85,000 signatures. The prime minister has not ruled out a second Leveson inquiry, though he stressed that now is a time for reflection while standard processes like an inquest are followed.
Calls for Investigation into Media Reporting
The case has reignited debates about press standards and racism. Cambridge's chancellor, Chris Smith, broke his silence, describing a "racist feeding frenzy" around the academic's death. The open letter, signed by Vernon and many others, calls for a public inquiry to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. The prime minister's openness to "Leveson 2" suggests a potential shift in policy, but he emphasized the need to let the usual legal processes conclude first.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Previous week | Resignation | Jason Arday resigns from Cambridge amid plagiarism allegations. |
| Friday | Death | Arday found dead; cause not yet disclosed. |
| Saturday | Fundraiser launched | Sir Patrick Vernon sets up GoFundMe; raises over £160,000. |
| Monday | Vigil planned | Stand Up to Racism organizes vigil at Trafalgar Square. |
Key Takeaways
- Jason Arday's death has triggered a massive public response, with over £160,000 raised for his family.
- Windrush campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon emphasizes that Britain still cares and is angry about the situation.
- An open letter demanding a public inquiry into media reporting has over 85,000 signatures.
- Cambridge's chancellor calls the media coverage a "racist feeding frenzy."
- The prime minister has not ruled out a second Leveson inquiry.
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