Family of Malcolm X files lawsuit alleging FBI, CIA involvement in his murder

The daughters of Malcolm X have filed a USD 100 million lawsuit against the FBI, CIA, and New York Police Department (NYPD), alleging that these entities were complicit in his 1965 assassination. 

The legal action, filed on behalf of Malcolm X’s estate and announced on Friday, accuses the U.S. government and New York law enforcement of orchestrating a cover-up to hide their involvement in the killing.

The family claims the agencies were aware of the plan to kill the civil rights icon and did nothing to prevent it.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit argues that the family has endured decades of suffering due to unanswered questions about his death.

“For years, the Shabazz family has lived with the agony of not knowing who was responsible, why it happened, or the extent of governmental orchestration and cover-up,” the lawsuit states. It describes the damage inflicted on Malcolm X’s descendants as “immeasurable and irreparable.”

 - The man behind the movement -

Born Malcolm Little in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, Malcolm X overcame a troubled early life marked by poverty and crime. After being imprisoned for robbery in 1946, he joined the Nation of Islam (NOI), a Black Muslim movement that preached Black empowerment and self-reliance.

With his sharp rhetoric and fearless critique of systemic racism, Malcolm X quickly became a prominent figure in the NOI, helping it expand nationally and gain widespread attention. However, ideological clashes with NOI leader Elijah Muhammad led to Malcolm’s departure in 1964.

After leaving the NOI, Malcolm converted to Sunni Islam and embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, an experience that profoundly shaped his views on race and justice. His focus shifted to advocating for universal human rights and critiquing broader systems of oppression, including capitalism and American imperialism.

On Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X was fatally shot while addressing an audience at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. He was 39 years old.

 - Decades of injustice and controversy -

Three men were convicted of Malcolm X’s murder, but the case has been mired in controversy for decades. Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, two of the men convicted, always maintained their innocence.

They were released in the mid-1980s, but their names were not cleared until 2021 when the New York Supreme Court overturned their convictions, citing prosecutorial misconduct and suppressed evidence.

The third man, Talmadge Hayer, admitted to the killing and testified that Aziz and Islam were not involved. Hayer was paroled in 2010 after serving decades in prison. Islam passed away in 2009, leaving him unable to witness his exoneration.

In 2022, New York City and the state of New York paid USD 36 million in settlements to Aziz and Islam’s estates, acknowledging the injustice they endured.

 - Renewed push for accountability -

Ilyasah Shabazz, one of Malcolm X’s daughters, previously announced her intent to sue US agencies over her father’s murder. The lawsuit filed this week alleges that authorities not only failed to act on their knowledge of the assassination plot but also worked to cover up their involvement.

The family says it is seeking justice not just for Malcolm X but also for the truth about the events leading to his death.

“This lawsuit is about accountability for one of the greatest injustices in American history,” Shabazz said.