Malcolm X’s family plans to sue the FBI, CIA and New York City police for $100m (£82.6m) over Tuesday’s assassination of the US civil rights activist exactly 58 years ago.
His daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, accused several federal and New York government organizations of fraudulently concealing evidence, saying they “conspired and carried out the plan to assassinate Malcolm X.”
“Our family has fought for many years to uncover the truth about his murder,” Ms. Shabazz said at a news conference at the site of her father’s assassination, which is now a memorial to Malcolm X.
Malcolm X, photographed in 1963.Image: Associated Press
Malcolm X rose to prominence as the national spokesman for the Nation of Islam, an African-American Muslim group that supported black separatism.
He broke away from the group in 1964 and moderated some of his early views on apartheid, which angered Nation of Islam members and resulted in death threats.
On February 21, 1965, as he was preparing to speak at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, he was shot and killed by three gunmen on stage at the age of 39.
Ms Shabazz, who was just two years old at the time, was present with her mother and sisters.
Associates of Malcolm X said after the shooting that they believed several government agencies knew about the assassination plan and allowed it to happen.
Nation of Islam member Talmaj Khal has admitted in court to being one of the assassins.
but a new york judge abandoned belief Or the two other men wrongfully imprisoned for decades for Malcolm X’s murder in 2021.
(LR) Malcolm X’s two daughters, Ilyasah and Qubilah Shabazz, and attorney Ben Crump
two men exonerated At the request of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the office said an investigation found that prosecutors and law enforcement withheld evidence that, if turned over, would have likely resulted in the acquittal of the pair.
New York law requires service of notice of claim on certain government agencies before filing a lawsuit.
The NYPD said it does not comment on pending litigation. The FBI and CIA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.