By Marissa Barrera
On November 15, 2024, Malcolm X’s family filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against the FBI, CIA, and NYPD, accusing these agencies of conspiring in his 1965 assassination by concealing evidence of the plot. This landmark case, spearheaded by his daughter Ilyasah Shabazz, seeks reparations, answers, and historical clarity regarding one of the most significant assassinations in American history.
For decades, the public has speculated about the government’s involvement in Malcolm X’s assassination. Similar questions surround other civil rights leaders like Fred Hampton, who was killed in 1969 by Chicago police in collaboration with the FBI. Both cases highlight the systemic abuse of power and lack of accountability that have defined these eras.
As an impacted family member who has fought for truth and accountability after my brother Michael Barrera was killed by Woodland Police in 2017, this announcement resonates deeply. The fight for justice, whether it’s decades old or recent, is not just about closure—it’s about setting the historical record straight and demanding accountability from a system that repeatedly fails the people it’ claims to to serve.
The Weight of History
Malcolm X, a prominent civil rights leader and spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, was assassinated on February 21, 1965, at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. After leaving the Nation of Islam in 1964 and moderating some of his earlier views, Malcolm X faced increasing threats, both from former allies and external forces. His assassination occurred in full view of his wife and children, leaving a lasting wound on his family and the civil rights movement.
The lawsuit alleges that law enforcement agencies not only knew about the plot to kill Malcolm X but allowed it to happen. Attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, stated, “We believe that they all conspired to assassinate Malcolm X, one of the greatest thought leaders of the 20th century.”
This echoes the 1969 assassination of Fred Hampton, a leader of the Illinois Black Panther Party, who was killed in his home during a raid orchestrated by Chicago police and the FBI. Both cases underscore the systemic targeting of Black leaders who challenged oppression, and both remain unresolved symbols of justice denied.
Why Civil Lawsuits Matter
Civil lawsuits, like the one filed by Malcolm X’s family, are often the only path to truth for impacted families. When the justice system fails to hold individuals criminally accountable, these lawsuits provide an opportunity to uncover evidence and expose systemic corruption.
In my own family’s fight for justice, civil litigation was critical. After my brother Michael was killed in 2017, we uncovered video and audio evidence that contradicted police narratives and proved the officers involved violated multiple policies. Despite our success in court, with judges repeatedly denying the officers’ claims of qualified immunity, no criminal charges were ever filed.
Malcolm X’s family’s lawsuit is about more than money—it’s about demanding accountability from a system that has long shielded itself from scrutiny. Like our family’s fight, it’s a step toward exposing the truth and holding those in power accountable.
A Shared Burden
For impacted families, the fight for justice never ends. Malcolm X’s assassination may have occurred nearly 60 years ago, but the pain and unanswered questions remain fresh for his family. Similarly, my family, approaching eight years since Michael’s death, continues to feel the weight of our loss.
Civil lawsuits bring temporary victories—moments of validation and evidence of wrongdoing—but they don’t erase the trauma or change the systemic failures that allowed these injustices to occur. Malcolm X’s family’s fight is a reminder that the burden of justice shouldn’t fall on families, yet it does, time and time again.
A Call to Action
Malcolm X’s family is asking critical questions: Why didn’t law enforcement agencies intervene to stop the assassination? What evidence was concealed? And why, after all these years, has no one been held accountable?
These are the same questions that countless impacted families ask, including mine. It’s time for systemic change that prioritizes truth, accountability, and justice over secrecy and protection of power.
I stand in solidarity with Malcolm X’s family, inspired by their courage to fight for justice and truth. Their lawsuit is a powerful reminder that even decades later, the pursuit of accountability is not only necessary—it’s essential.
Sources
For a deeper exploration of civil lawsuits as families’ only path to accountability, read my companion article here.