Three daughters of Malcolm X, a prominent figure in the Black empowerment and civil rights movements, have accused U.S. law enforcement agencies of playing a key role in the assassination of their father in 1965. The family has filed a $100 million wrongful-death lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the New York Police Department (NYPD).
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, marks the latest chapter in the ongoing controversy surrounding Malcolm X’s death, which has been the subject of decades of investigation, speculation, and unanswered questions. The civil rights icon was killed on February 21, 1965, when gunmen opened fire during a speech he was delivering in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, New York. He was 39 years old.
Allegations of Government Conspiracy and Missteps
In the newly filed lawsuit, Malcolm X’s daughters claim that a “corrupt, unlawful, and unconstitutional” collaboration between government agencies and the individuals responsible for his assassination facilitated the crime. The suit further alleges that the CIA, FBI, and NYPD’s actions, or lack thereof, allowed for the tragedy to unfold.
Specifically, the lawsuit accuses the agencies of a long-standing effort to cover up their involvement and protect the killers. It highlights several key missteps, including the NYPD’s arrest of Malcolm X’s security team just days before the assassination, as well as the removal of police officers from inside the ballroom during the attack.
Additionally, the lawsuit points out that federal agents were reportedly in the ballroom at the time of the shooting but did nothing to intervene. This raises further questions about the extent of law enforcement’s knowledge of the plot to kill Malcolm X and their failure to act.
Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Leads Legal Action
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Shabazz family, announced the lawsuit in a press conference on Friday. Crump emphasized the gravity of the allegations, stating, “We believe that they all conspired to assassinate Malcolm X, one of the greatest thought leaders of the 20th century.” He also expressed hope that this lawsuit would shine a light on the “dastardly deeds” of past government officials and bring justice for the Shabazz family.
“We hope law enforcement officials read this lawsuit and learn about all the wrongs done by their predecessors,” Crump added.
Government Agencies Respond
Neither the CIA nor the FBI has issued a public response to the lawsuit. The NYPD, in line with its standard policy, has said that it does not comment on pending litigation.
Decades-Long Fallout and Historical Review
Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, was a vocal and transformative figure in the civil rights movement. He initially gained prominence as a spokesperson for the Nation of Islam but eventually distanced himself from the organization, adopting a more inclusive approach to Black liberation. His growing influence and revolutionary ideas, however, drew the scrutiny of federal agencies, which had been monitoring him closely for years.
Following his assassination, three men were convicted for the murder, all of whom were members of the Nation of Islam. However, doubts about the fairness of the investigation persisted for decades. In 2020, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance initiated a review of the case, which led to the exoneration of two of the three men—Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam—after it was revealed that crucial evidence had been withheld during the original trial. The conviction of a third man, Mujahid Abdul Halim, was not overturned.
The review also underscored that authorities had long been aware of threats against Malcolm X, including a firebombing of his home just one week before his assassination. The lawsuit filed this week suggests that the NYPD and federal agencies had additional information about the conspiracy to kill Malcolm X, including the presence of undercover officers at the scene, which was not made public at the time.
The Pain of the Unknown
The Shabazz family has long suffered from the uncertainty surrounding their father’s death. The lawsuit states that for decades, they have endured the “pain of the unknown,” not knowing the full extent of the government’s involvement in the killing or the identity of those who orchestrated and concealed it.
“The damage caused to the Shabazz family is unimaginable, immense, and irreparable,” the lawsuit asserts.
