Family Of Malcolm X To File Lawsuit Alleging Official Cover-Up After His Assassination
On the 58th anniversary of his assassination, the family of Malcolm X and their attorney Ben Crump announced a new lawsuit surrounding the murder of the slain civil rights leader.
CBS New York reports that Crump plans to sue the NYPD and other government agencies for fraudulent concealment of evidence related to the killing.
Two men, Muhammad A. Aziz and Khalil Islam, were wrongly convicted of the Feb. 21, 1965 killing in which Malcolm X was gunned down while speaking at the Audubon Ballroom in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan.
A 22-month investigation by the office of former Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. and the men’s lawyers found that the NYPD, FBI and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have likely led to acquittals. On Nov. 17, 2021, Aziz and Islam’s convictions were thrown out.
In 2022, New York City announced plans to settle lawsuits filed on behalf of two men, agreeing to pay $26 million for the wrongful convictions.
Authorities accused Aziz and Islam, along with a third man, Talmadge X. Hayer (whose name is now Mujahid Abdul Halim) for the killing. Hayer admitted to his role in the shooting, but said Aziz and Islam were not involved. He said in a 1977 affidavit that he had instead plotted the assassination with four other people over Malcolm X’s criticism of the Nation of Islam and its then-leader Elijah Muhammad.
“Today, we will celebrate our father’s life and legacy. We will also seek justice for a man who gave his life for human rights. 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 he deserves,” Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter, said in a statement.
On Tuesday night (Feb. 21), the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center will host its 58th Commemoration of El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X). The event marks the official relaunch of the Shabazz Center through partnerships with community organizers and educators to facilitate cultural activations meant to catalyze the next generation of leaders in the movement for racial equity and global justice.
Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill will serve as the master of ceremonies for the gathering, and activist Angela Davis is slated as the keynote speaker. The Honorees include Ben Crump, Democracy Now host Amy Goodman, activist Gwen Carr, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tamara Payne, and MSNBC’s The Reid Out host Joy Reid.
