56 years after his murder, they call for reopening the investigation into Malcolm X’s death. The daughters of the African-American activist, killed in 1965, called for a re-investigation, following new testimony involving the NYPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
At a press conference, a letter was filed written by a former New York Police officer, now deceased, accusing that force and the FBI of complicity in the murder. According to a cousin, the officer, who was black and operated undercover, assured that at the request of his bosses he approached Malcolm X’s entourage and caught two of his bodyguards, who were arrested a few days before the murder.
On February 21, 1965, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, the real name of Malcolm X, was without his two bodyguards when he performed for an address at the Audubon Ballroom, a showroom in upper Manhattan. While giving his speech, three armed individuals fired at him. When he got to the hospital, he was dead.
The exoficial, who wanted his testimony to be made public only after his death, argues that the NYPD and the FBI have kept certain aspects of the case secret. In February 2020, following the broadcast of a documentary on Netflix (“Who Killed Malcolm X?”), Manhattan Attorney Cyrus Vance asked his teams to review the case to determine whether the investigation should be reopened or not. The NYPD said it had communicated to the Prosecutor’s Office “all records related to this case” and noted that it “is willing to contribute to this review in any way.” The FBI, for its part, did not rule on it.” Anything that sheds light on this terrible tragedy must be carefully considered,” said Ilyasah Shabazz, one of Macolm X’s three daughters, present at the press conference.
