Lawsuit filed against NYC agencies, NYPD for handling of Malcom X assassination
NEW YORK -- Prominent civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump joined family members of slain civil rights leader Malcolm X 58 years after he was assassinated to announce a new lawsuit related to his murder.
Ilyasah Shabazz was only 2 years old, and her sister Qubilah Shabazz was 4, when their father was assassinated while speaking at New York's Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights in 1965.
"My mother came here, excited to see her husband because a week prior, her home had been firebombed," Ilyasah Shabazz said. "She walked in here happy, and she left out shattered."
Fifty-eight years to the day later, the daughters say they celebrate his life in that space, but there, they also announced new litigation.
"We will also seek justice for a man, a very young man -- he was only 39 years old -- who gave his life for human rights," Ilyasah Shabazz said.
Alongside Crump, the family announced the intent to sue various government agencies, including the NYPD, the FBI, the CIA and the United States Department of Justice.
In those notices of intent to sue, they allege the government agencies fraudulently concealed evidence related to the killing.
It comes months after two men convicted in the murder of Malcolm X were exonerated.
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The lawsuit seeks $100 million on behalf of the daughters. They say the hope is the litigation will finally provide answers to some unanswered questions.
"The only thing they can do is try to right a historic wrong," Crump said.
The NYPD and the Manhattan District Attorney declined to comment.
We are still waiting to hear back from state and federal agencies named as defendants.