Assassination of Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a Muslim African American minister and human rights activist who became well-known during the civil rights movement. On February 21, 1965, he was shot and killed in Manhattan, New York City, while preparing to speak at the Organization of Afro-American Unity in the Audubon Ballroom in the Washington Heights neighborhood. He was only 39 years old at the time.

Three members of the Nation of Islam—Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Khalil Islam, and Thomas Hagan—were charged with the crime and later convicted. In 2021, two of them were officially cleared of the charge.

The killing of Malcolm X remains an important event in history. It happened during a time of big changes in the United States and was one of several high-profile assassinations in the 1960s, including those of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. Many people have wondered over the years whether others were involved in planning the assassination.

Death threats and intimidation from Nation of Islam

During 1964, Malcolm X faced many threats because of his disagreements with the Nation of Islam and its leader, Elijah Muhammad. These disagreements began when Malcolm X made strong comments about the assassination of John F. Kennedy and criticized Elijah Muhammad's behavior. Because of this, Malcolm X decided to leave the Nation of Islam in March 1964.

The threats continued to grow. In February, someone tried to bomb Malcolm X’s car. Later, a leader in the Nation of Islam made very harsh statements suggesting harm would come to Malcolm X. By the end of 1964, Malcolm X himself said he knew his past ties with the Nation of Islam could lead to danger. He shared in interviews that he felt his life was at risk.

Assassination

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was preparing to speak at a meeting in New York City when he was shot by several people in the audience. He was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries. Three men were later arrested and convicted of the crime and sent to prison.

Many people wondered who was really responsible for what happened. Some believed that secret government programs may have played a role, while others pointed to disputes within the groups Malcolm X was involved with. Even today, the full story behind his death remains unclear.

Lawsuit in federal district court

On November 15, 2024, the family of Malcolm X filed a civil lawsuit in Manhattan's federal district court. They claimed that the New York Police Department, the CIA, and the FBI knew about plans to harm him but did not stop it. The lawsuit also said these agencies did not share important information with his family after his death.

Portrayals in popular culture

The assassination of Malcolm X has been shown in many movies and TV shows. One example is an episode from the 1979 TV series Roots: The Next Generations. In 1992, a film called Malcolm X starred Denzel Washington as Malcolm X. Another film, Death of a Prophet from 1981, focused mainly on the assassination and featured Morgan Freeman. In 2020, Netflix released a docuseries called Who Killed Malcolm X?, which led to a new review of the case. The assassination was also shown in the 2001 film Ali, with Will Smith playing Muhammad Ali and Mario Van Peebles portraying Malcolm X.