Malcolm X Family Files Suit Against CIA, FBI and NYPD

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NEW YORK – Three daughters of Malcolm X have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the FBI, CIA and the New York Police Department. The suit claims that the agencies played a role in the 1965 assassination. 

Filed in Manhattan Federal Court, the family of Malcolm X along with his estate allege that the agencies were aware of and involved with the assassination. Most notably, they claim that agencies did nothing to stop the killing after learning of the intent. Additionally, plaintiffs claim that the FBI conspired to reduce Malcolm’s protection, leaving him susceptible to an imminent attack. 

On February 19, 1965, Malcolm told photojournalist Gordon Parks that he believed the Nation of Islam had plans to murder him. Two days later, a disturbance broke out in the crowd as Malcolm prepared to speak at the Manhattan Audubon Ballroom. Talmadge Hayer, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, then approached him. Hayer shot Malcolm at point-blank range, firing directly into his chest.

Other gunmen were present, and they shot Malcolm 21 times in total. Shortly after arriving at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, he was pronounced dead.

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Now, nearly 60 years later, the estate of Malcolm X is still searching for accountability and resolution. 

Lawsuit Filing

Famous civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump is the primary counsel for the New York lawsuit. Civil rights attorneys and leaders have long contested connections between Malcolm’s death and leading law enforcement agencies. 

Crump, along with his co-counsel and the Malcolm X family, held a press conference on Friday morning. “We are here today to officially announce the filing of our $100 million dollar lawsuit against the United States government… who we believe all conspired to assassinate Malcolm X,” said Crump. “It is not lost on us that justice has been delayed in this matter.”

Also during the press conference, Crump alleges that NYPD officers attempted to help Hayer escape capture. While this allegation has not been verified, an eyewitness present on the day of Malcolm’s killing attested to the claim. 

The Counter Intelligence Program often comes up in discussions about the assassinations of prominent civil rights leaders. Known colloquially as “COINTELPRO”, this program included a series of FBI projects between 1956 and 1971 aimed at surveilling and infiltrating political organizations. Notably, it was this program that led to the 1969 killing of former deputy chairman of the Black Panther Party, Fred Hampton.  

On the day of Malcolm’s assassination, there was a Black undercover police officer present. Authorities assigned Eugene Roberts to infiltrate Malcolm’s inner circle and other Black resistance groups. “The government fingerprints are all over the assassination… and finally we believe we have the evidence to prove it,” stated Crump. 

There has yet to be a formal response from the defending agencies.