The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 15, 2025
Today: March 15, 2025

Malcolm X's family sues US law enforcement agencies over assassination

FILE PHOTO: Attorney Ben Crump and members of Shabazz family announce lawsuit in case of assasination of civil rights leader Malcolm X in New York
November 15, 2024
Rich McKay - Reuters

By Rich McKay

(Reuters) - The family of Malcolm X, a militant civil-rights leader who was assassinated almost 60 years ago, filed a $100-million federal lawsuit on Friday that accuses the FBI, CIA and New York Police Department of allowing his murder to be carried out.

The lawsuit, brought by Malcolm X's daughter Ilyasah Shabazz and other family members, alleges the law-enforcement agencies concealed evidence that they had known of the plot to kill him but did nothing to stop it.

"We believe that they all conspired to assassinate Malcolm X, one of the greatest thought leaders of the 20th century," Ben Crump, a civil-rights attorney who is representing the family, said at a press conference.  

The wrongful-death lawsuit was announced at a memorial center on the site in New York City where Malcolm X was killed. It seeks to answer questions surrounding the assassination, and paint an accurate history of the events, Crump said. It is also intended to bring reparations to the family.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department was not immediately available for comment, but the department previously told Reuters it would not comment on the litigation when it was announced last year.

The FBI and the CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Malcolm X became prominent as the national spokesperson of the Nation of Islam, an African American Muslim group that espoused Black separatism.

After more than a decade with the group, he publicly broke with it in 1964. He moderated some of his earlier views on racial separation, angering some Nation of Islam members and drawing death threats.

Talmadge Hayer, then a member of the Nation of Islam, confessed in court to being one of the three assassins. But speculation that the government may have been aware of the assassination plan and allowed it to happen has persisted for decades.    

Shabazz was just two years old on Feb. 21, 1965, when her father was killed while preparing to speak at New York's Audubon Ballroom. She was present with her mother and siblings when the assassination took place. 

(Reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Rod Nickel)

Related Articles

Hertz wins dismissal of lawsuit in Delaware over warrants Union asks judge to block Elon Musk's DOGE from Labor Dept systems Tulsa, Oklahoma, mayor backs new plan for reparations for race massacre victims Wisconsin's Fourqurean files injunction saying Division II years shouldn't count against eligibility
Share This

Popular

Crime|Europe|Political|World

Huge crowds join anti-government rally in Belgrade after sporadic violence

Huge crowds join anti-government rally in Belgrade after sporadic violence
Americas|Business|Crime|Europe|World

Russian captain of a cargo vessel involved in North Sea collision appears in UK court

Russian captain of a cargo vessel involved in North Sea collision appears in UK court
Asia|Business|Crime|Finance|Stock Markets|Technology

China to crack down on stock market fake news as AI spurs misinformation, says state media 

China to crack down on stock market fake news as AI spurs misinformation, says state media 
Crime|Europe

Russian captain involved in US tanker crash appears in UK court

Russian captain involved in US tanker crash appears in UK court

Political

Europe|Political|World

Starmer urges Putin to prove he is serious about peace by signing up to Ukraine ceasefire

Starmer urges Putin to prove he is serious about peace by signing up to Ukraine ceasefire
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|Stock Markets|US

With Trump's zigzag actions on trade, March came in like a lion and won't be going out like a lamb

With Trump's zigzag actions on trade, March came in like a lion and won't be going out like a lamb
Americas|MidEast|Political|US|World

Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if truce agreement is implemented

Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if truce agreement is implemented
Business|Economy|Europe|Political

EU countries draft plan to soften gas storage targets, document shows

EU countries draft plan to soften gas storage targets, document shows

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In