The daughters of the legendary civil rights leader Malcolm X have taken a bold step by filing a $100 million lawsuit against the FBI, CIA, and the New York Police Department (NYPD). They claim that these agencies were complicit in the assassination of their father in 1965, alleging that they not only had prior knowledge of the plot but also failed to intervene and prevent the tragic event.
Malcolm X, originally known as Malcolm Little, was brutally assassinated on February 21, 1965, while delivering a speech at the Audubon Ballroom in Upper Manhattan. Shockingly, he was shot a staggering 21 times in front of his wife, Betty Shabazz, and their daughters, who were present in the audience. While three men were initially convicted of the crime, two of them were exonerated in 2021 after new evidence came to light, suggesting that crucial details had been overlooked or deliberately concealed by authorities.
The case took a new turn with testimony from Mustafa Hassan, who was part of Malcolm X’s security detail at the time. Hassan claimed that he had tried to stop one of the shooters, Thomas Hagan (also known as Talmadge X Hayer), from fleeing the scene. However, police officers reportedly intervened to protect Hagan, raising suspicions about their involvement in the assassination plot.
Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Malcolm X’s daughters and estate, described the lawsuit as an effort to uncover the “corrupt, unlawful, and unconstitutional” actions taken by law enforcement and government agencies leading up to Malcolm X’s death. The complaint accuses the government of enabling a network of “ruthless killers” who operated with impunity, shielding their actions for decades.
At a press conference, Crump emphasized the government’s alleged role in Malcolm X’s assassination, stating, “The government’s fingerprints are all over the assassination of Malcolm X. We believe we have the evidence to prove it.” He highlighted the enduring pain and uncertainty faced by the Shabazz family, who have been deprived of closure and justice for years.
Malcolm X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, spoke passionately about her family’s quest for justice at the press conference held at the site of her father’s assassination. She emphasized the devastating impact of the tragedy on her mother, who witnessed her husband’s horrific murder while pregnant with their child, adding another layer of grief and trauma to the family’s ordeal.
Malcolm X’s legacy as a prominent voice for Black empowerment and civil rights “by any means necessary” remains a powerful force in the ongoing fight for racial equality. His assassination, along with that of other Black leaders like Fred Hampton, underscores the systemic targeting and suppression of Black political figures by law enforcement agencies, as evidenced by programs like COINTELPRO.
The lawsuit filed by Malcolm X’s daughters is a courageous and necessary step towards seeking accountability and shedding light on the dark forces that conspired to silence a powerful voice for justice and equality. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and the importance of holding those in power accountable for their actions.
