Malcolm X's Family Demands Declassification of Government Files 60 Years After His Assassination

The civil rights leader's family seeks transparency about his death, alleging government complicity and calling for the release of FBI and CIA records by what would have been his 100th birthday.

Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, in New York City, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain controversial 60 years later.
His family, led by his daughter Ilyasah Shabazz and attorney Ben Crump, has filed a $100 million lawsuit against the NYPD, FBI, and CIA, alleging a conspiracy to facilitate his murder and cover it up.
The family is urging the federal government to declassify all files related to Malcolm X's assassination, with a deadline of May 19, 2025, which would have been his 100th birthday.
Two men wrongfully convicted for Malcolm X's murder were exonerated in 2021 after evidence suppression and witness intimidation by authorities were revealed; their families received a $36 million settlement.
The call for declassification comes as Malcolm X's legacy is celebrated, with advocates emphasizing his evolving views on racial justice and his enduring influence as a global icon of civil rights.