Cambridge professor found dead after scrutiny over academic record faced ‘sustained abuse,’ family say | CNN

The family of Jason Arday, the Cambridge academic found dead on Friday after his resignation amid plagiarism allegations, described him as a “gentle man” who had faced “sustained abuse.” Arday, 41, was Cambridge University’s youngest ever Black professor and a celebrated public figure until last month, when he suffered a swift fall from grace following intense questions about his academic achievements and charity work. Arday became the focus of hundreds of articles doubting his credibility and denigrating his character in the British and international media. News of his death brought widespread shock with many of those paying tribute arguing his treatment was disproportionate, if not outright racist. One of Arday’s prominent supporters, activist Patrick Vernon, started a GoFundMe “to help contribute towards funeral, memorial and associated family costs” for his family. As of Saturday evening, it had raised over $37,000. A UK anti-bigotry group, Stand Up to Racism, announced an upcoming vigil in London’s Trafalgar Square in Arday’s memory, describing the media coverage of his scandal as “a racist witch hunt” organized by the far-right. British Prime Minister