A daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X has announced plans to sue the CIA, FBI, the New York Police Department and others for $100 million, accusing them of playing a role in his death.
Ilyasah Shabazz, the co-administrator of her father’s estate, filed notices of claim saying the agencies “conspired with each other and with other individuals and acted, and failed to act, in such a way as to bring about the wrongful death of Malcolm X.”
Malcolm X was assassinated as a crowd gathered to hear him speak at the Audubon Ballroom in upper Manhattan on February 21, 1965.
“For years our family has fought for the truth to come to light,” Ms Shabazz said at a news conference at the site on the anniversary of his death.
“We want justice served for our father.”
For decades questions have circulated over who was responsible for his death.
Three men were convicted, but two were exonerated in 2021 after a renewed investigation into the cases against them showed the evidence used to gain convictions was shaky and that authorities had held back some information.
The CIA and FBI have yet to respond to the claim. The NYPD declined to comment.
Attorney Ben Crump noted the anniversary date and said that ever since then, “there has been speculation as to who was involved in the assassination of Malcolm X.”
“It’s not just about the triggermen,” he said. “It’s about those who conspired with the triggermen to do this dastardly deed.”
He cited the 2021 exonerations and said that government agencies including the Manhattan district attorney, the NYPD and the FBI “had factual evidence, exculpatory evidence that they fraudulently concealed from the men who were wrongfully convicted for the assassination of Malcolm X.”
Asked if he believes government agencies conspired to assassinate Malcolm, Mr Crump said, “That is what we are alleging, yes. They infiltrated many civil rights organisations.”
