A man who says he witnessed the Malcolm X assassination made an explosive accusation about the man convicted of killing the civil rights leader — that the convicted gunman, Nation of Islam member Thomas Hagan, was involved with law enforcement.
"No doubt in my mind — NYPD, CIA, FBI, but he was definitely working for some government establishment," said the eyewitness, Mustafa Hassan.
What You Need To Know
- Mustafa Hassan, who worked security at Malcolm X's Audubon Ballroom, claims shooter Thomas Hagan was working with law enforcement
- Hagan, a Nation of Islam member, was convicted of killing Malcolm X at his Audubon Ballroom speech, following his acrimonious split with the Nation of Islam
- Attorney Ben Crump is planning a $100 million lawsuit on behalf of Malcolm X's children against the NYPD, CIA and FBI
- The FBI declined to comment, and NY1 reached out to the Department of Justice, CIA and NYPD for comment
Hassan said he assisted the security detail for Malcolm X’s Feb. 21, 1965 speech at the Audubon Ballroom.
"Law enforcement never attempted to interview or obtain a statement from me," Hassan said, reading his own affidavit.
The affidavit from Hassan is part of $100 million lawsuit against the NYPD, FBI and CIA that civil rights attorney Ben Crump says he will file on behalf of Malcolm X’s children.
Crump made numerous references to claims from an undercover NYPD detective that informants were in the Audubon Ballroom and that authorities were in on the assassination.
"That's why we are putting forth in our legal action that the government was involved in the conspiracy to kill Malcolm X," Crump said. "They did not allow anybody to reveal their presence on what they were doing in the Audubon Ballroom."
Hagan was one of three men convicted of killing Malcolm X.
The two other men who were convicted of the assassination — Muhammed Aziz and Khalil Islam — were exonerated and got a $10 million settlement from the city last year.
"I think what history has recorded is inaccurate," said Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X's daughter. "So we want the truth to be known. We want the history books to reflect that truth and we would like justice to be served."
The FBI declined to comment. NY1 reached out to the Department of Justice, CIA and NYPD for comment. NY1 also tried to reach Hagan, who was paroled in 2010.
Crump on the anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination this year filed a notice of intent to sue the FBI, CIA and NYPD. There is a six-month waiting period when suing the federal government before Crump can file the lawsuit.