The daughters of civil rights leader Malcolm X filed a civil action Nov. 15 against the United States government, the city of New York, and the estates of various former federal agents for their alleged role in concealing, condoning, and facilitating his assassination in 1965. The family is represented by noted civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

The suit accuses agents, officials and informants for the US Department of Justice (DoJ), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD) of acting "individually, jointly, and in conspiracy, to proximately cause" the assassination of Malcolm X. The complaint further accuses the government and various agencies of purposely failing to intervene in the assassination and working to cover up their involvement.

According to the complaint, the NYPD possessed knowledge of the threats to the civil rights leader's life, but instead of intervening to prevent the murder, the department worked with government agencies to have members of his security detail arrested before the speaking engagement where X was killed. The NYPD is also accused of intentionally removing officers from the ballroom against standard practice despite the known threats against Malcolm.

Undercover federal personnel are accused of failing to act despite their presence in the ballroom at the time of the assassination and then working to cover up involvement with the assistance of informants who witnessed the crime.

Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, who were convicted of the murder, were exonerated in 2021. Both men served 20 years in prison for the murder; Islam died in 2009. Aziz filed a lawsuit against the City of New York, alleging the authorities fabricated evidence, coerced false identifications, and manipulated jury witnesses with substantial assistance from federal agencies.

The 85-page complaint in the new case dives deep into the FBI's history of surveilling and harassing Black political leaders, including former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover's efforts to deport Black activist Marcus Garvey, as well as the domestic spying program COINTELPRO which targeted leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Fred Hampton, Stokely Carmichael, and Malcolm X. It details extensive efforts from intelligence leaders to suppress and undermine Black political activity while violating the constitutional rights of the people it targeted.

The complaint contains nine causes of action, including wrongful death, excessive force, fraudulent concealment, conspiracy, and denial of access to courts. The family is seeking pecuniary damages for the loss of companionship, violations of constitutional rights, and loss of income and inheritance.

From Jurist, Nov. 15. Use with permission.