NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Ilyasah Shabazz places a hand on the shoulder of her sister Qubilah Shabazz shoulder after Civil rights attorney Ben Crump finishes speaking during a press conference at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center on February 21, 2023 in New York City. On the 58th anniversary of civil rights leader Malcolm X's death, Crump along with the family of the late civil rights leader announced their intent to sue the NYPD and several government agencies over their alleged 'concealment of evidence' in his murder. The lawsuit alleges that the agencies had access to factual and exculpatory evidence that was kept from Malcolm X's family and the individuals wrongly convicted of crimes connected to his assassination. In 2021, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam were exonerated after a nearly two-year investigation by their lawyers and the Manhattan DA and awarded a total of $36 million. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Today officially marks 58 years since the assassination of the late and great Malcolm X, and today his family made a formal announcement of plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the New York Police Department, as well as other government agencies for allegedly playing a role in his murder.
The lawsuit will also name the NYPD, New York state, NYC, the FBI and the CIA, according to to ABC News.
On Tuesday, civil rights attorney Ben Crump was joined by members of Malcolm’s family at the Shabazz Educational Center in Washington Heights. Crump alleges that the agencies named “had factual evidence and exculpatory evidence that they fraudulently concealed from the men who were wrongfully convicted for the assassination of Malcolm X.”
The building where the center is housed was formally known as the Audubon building, where Malcolm had been murdered by three men 58 years prior. During the press conference, Crump said,
“Many things that will be put forth in our lawsuit that speaks to this factual evidence. We believe that now it could be substantiated based on the recent exonerations of those who were wrongfully convicted.”
According to CBS News, back in 2021, two of the three men that had served time for the 1965 murder were exonerated. It was determined that Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam were wrongfully convicted after Mujahid Abdul Halim admitted to his role in the shooting and said the two other men were not involved.
Crump questioned during the press conference:
“The rhetorical question is this: if the government compensated the two gentlemen that were wrongfully convicted for the assassination of Malcolm X with tens of millions of dollars, then what is to be the compensation for the daughters who suffered the most from the assassination of Malcolm X?”
Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter, added that the family is seeking “justice” for a man “who gave his life for human rights,” and that learning “the circumstances leading to the death of our father is important.”
“For years our family has fought for the truth to come to light concerning his murder, and we’d like our father to receive the justice that he deserves,” she said. “The truth about the circumstances leading to the death of our father is important – not only to his family, but to many followers, many admirers … And it is our hope that litigation of this case will finally provide some unanswered questions. We want justice served for our father.”
Malcolm X, a minister and human rights advocate who became a prominent leadership figure during the American civil rights movement, was shot 21 times while preparing to deliver remarks on stage during an event at the Audubon Ballroom back in 1965.
Tuesday marks 58 years since his death.
New York City also agreed to pay $26 million in settling a lawsuit filed on behalf of Aziz and also Islam, who was exonerated posthumously in the killing. Meanwhile, the state of New York agreed to pay an additional $10 million, The Shade Room reported.
None of the agencies offered any comment on the wrongful death lawsuit as of Wednesday.
