ARE statement on the death of Professor Jason Arday
Meka Beresford
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Jason’s family, friends, and our communities who will mourn this death.
Action for Race Equality (ARE) is deeply saddened by the news that Jason Arday has died.
Professor Arday, Jason, faced incessant media scrutiny over the last few weeks. The vitriolic coverage about Jason and his academic record was nothing less than a sustained campaign of abuse, the foundations of which were initially cleared by the institutions which he was a part of.
This malicious coverage of Jason, a Black autistic man, was indicative of the unequal standards applied to Black public figures – and in this instance have culminated in a deeply tragic death.
Jason was one of ARE’s Routes2Success first Role Models and is remembered fondly, and his achievements viewed with great pride and a profound sadness that his legacy was not longer.
We must move away from such public execution of character and count on the appropriate systems to provide accountability rather that media storms which bully Black public figures in a way which perpetuates racial bias and unequal standards.
Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Jason’s family, friends, and our communities who will mourn this death. May he rest in peace.
