Malcom X’s Journey To Greatness: Family Seeks $100 Million in Landmark Lawsuit Against U.S. Government
In a groundbreaking legal move, the daughters of Malcolm X have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the United States government, the New York Police Department (NYPD), the FBI, and the CIA.WWW.NPR.ORG This landmark case, filed in November 2024, alleges that these agencies played a role in the civil rights leader's assassination on February 21, 1965, at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan.WWW.CBSNEWS.COM
The lawsuit, spearheaded by attorney Ben Crump, claims that the government agencies "all conspired to assassinate Malcolm X."WWW.CBSNEWS.COM The family's allegations are far-reaching and include accusations of failing to protect Malcolm X despite known threats, actively encouraging and facilitating the assassination, and engaging in a cover-up after the fact. Perhaps most shockingly, the complaint asserts that the FBI failed to safeguard Malcolm X and instead compromised his safety by arresting his security team just days before the assassination.WWW.CBSNEWS.COM
One of the most startling revelations in the lawsuit is the claim that at least ten eyewitnesses to the murder were actually FBI informants, a fact that was allegedly concealed for decades.WWW.JURIST.ORG This information, along with previously sealed FBI documents, suggests that federal agents and informants were present in the Audubon Ballroom during the assassination but did not intervene. These allegations, if proven true, could fundamentally alter our understanding of one of the most significant events in civil rights history.
The lawsuit also sheds light on the FBI's COINTELPRO program, which targeted various groups considered subversive, including civil rights organizations. According to the complaint, COINTELPRO documents explicitly stated an aim to "prevent the rise of a 'messiah' who could unify and electrify the militant Black nationalist movement."WWW.JURIST.ORGThis revelation suggests a systemic effort to undermine Malcolm X's influence and the broader civil rights movement.
For Malcolm X's daughters, this lawsuit represents more than just a quest for financial compensation. As Ilyasah Shabazz, one of Malcolm X's daughters, stated, "We seek justice for the assassination of our father and that the truth will be recorded in history."WWW.CBSNEWS.COM The family's pursuit of justice comes in the wake of the 2021 exoneration of two men wrongfully convicted for Malcolm X's murder, further fueling questions about the true circumstances surrounding his death.
As this case unfolds, it promises to reignite public interest in Malcolm X's legacy and potentially uncover long-hidden truths about his assassination. While the NYPD and FBI have declined to comment on the lawsuit, and the New York City Law Department has stated it is reviewing the case, the outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for how we understand the relationship between government agencies and civil rights leaders during one of the most tumultuous periods in American history.WWW.CBSNEWS.COM