Three daughters of the civil rights activist Malcolm X have launched a $100 million lawsuit against several government entities, including the CIA, FBI, and the New York Police Department. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan, where the daughters, along with the Malcolm X estate, asserted that these agencies were complicit in the plot that led to Malcolm X’s assassination in 1965, and that they failed to intervene in the murder.
During a press conference held in the morning, attorney Ben Crump, flanked by family members, elaborated on the lawsuit’s implications. He expressed hope that the federal and city officials would take the time to examine the claims laid out in the lawsuit, in an effort to understand the historical injustices committed by their predecessors and take steps toward rectifying those issues.
As of now, the involved law enforcement agencies have not offered any comments regarding the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the Justice Department, which has also been named in the suit, refrained from making a statement.
For many years, ambiguity has surrounded the circumstances of Malcolm X’s death, which occurred when he was 39 years old. He was assassinated on February 21, 1965, while addressing a gathering at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan. Born Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska, he later adopted the name El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.
In the wake of the assassination, three individuals were convicted in connection with the crime. However, investigations in 2021 resulted in the exoneration of two of those convicted, as new findings raised serious doubts about the evidence used in their trials. It was revealed that critical information had been withheld by authorities.
The lawsuit alleges that the prosecution team was complicit in hiding the government’s involvement in the assassination. The plaintiffs articulated that the family of Malcolm X, particularly his wife, Betty Shabazz, has endured years of suffering not knowing the full truth surrounding his murder.
According to the legal documents, the Shabazz family has lived with extensive pain over the years, stating, “They did not know who murdered Malcolm X, why he was murdered, the level of NYPD, FBI and CIA orchestration, the identity of the governmental agents who conspired to ensure his demise, or who fraudulently covered-up their role.” The lawsuit goes on to highlight the profound and irreversible damage inflicted on the family over decades of uncertainty and distress.
The family made a public announcement last year regarding their plans to file this lawsuit against law enforcement agencies, marking a significant moment in their ongoing quest for justice and acknowledgment of the past.
