The Assassination of Malcolm X Pt. 2

In the case surrounding the assassination of Malcolm X, three men were charged in an emotionally-charged and complex trial that left many questions about the veracity and fairness of the convictions.

Three Men Charged With Malcolm X's First-Degree Murder

Prosecutors accused three men, Thomas Haleem, Norman Butler (also known as Muhammad Aziz), and Thomas Johnson (also known as Khalil Islam), of first-degree murder in the assassination of Malcolm X.

Prosecutors Claim Haleem and Aziz Distracted Security, Enabling Islam to Kill Malcolm

Haleem and Aziz were claimed by the prosecution to have caused a disturbance that distracted security personnel. This, the prosecutors argued, allowed Islam the opportunity to fire a fatal shotgun blast from the front row at Malcolm X.

Case Against Aziz and Islam: Eyewitness Testimony Inconsistent; Defense Offers Alibis For Murder Timeframe

The case against Aziz and Islam hinged solely on eyewitness testimony, which was fraught with inconsistencies. Witnesses provided descriptions of the assailant with the shotgun that did not match Islam, and one defense witness explicitly claimed to have seen a different individual holding the shotgun.

Both Islam and Aziz had strong alibis for the time of Malcolm X's murder. The defense brought forth evidence and witness testimony indicating that the accused were elsewhere during the assassination. Witnesses confirmed having interacted with the men via their home phones, and a doctor verbally attested to treating Aziz for a leg injury on the morning of the murder, affirming ...

A situation has arisen where newly surfaced evidence and calls for a retrial in a 1977 case have been met with judicial rejection.

Judge Denies New Trial In 1977 Accomplice Case

William Consler, the attorney for Haleem in a case from 1977, takes action to secure a retrial for his client based on new evidence, but faces denials.

Lawyer's Sworn Statement Confirms Absences, New Trial Denied

In a remarkable development, Consler obtained a sworn statement from a member of Malcolm's security team who asserted to the police that Islam and Aziz were not present at the ballroom on the day Malcolm X was assassinated. Despite presenting this evidence, the judge denied Consler's motion for a new trial.

Consler Appealed for Congress to Reopen the Case, but No Officials Followed Up On Haleem's Names

Adding to the complexity, Haleem himself provided an affidavit in 1977, in which he named four accomplices and gave detailed descriptions and locations, hoping this would warrant a retri ...

Revelations suggest that both the NYPD and FBI had detailed knowledge concerning the assassination of Malcolm X, including informants present during the incident and withheld crucial evidence from the investigation.

NYPD and FBI had Malcolm under surveillance and informants, suggesting they knew of the assassination plot

The NYPD had undercover officers in place who witnessed Malcolm X's murder, and the FBI had infiltrated the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) with informants, some of whom were present at the assassination. These facts indicate government agencies' foreknowledge of the plot against Malcolm X.

NYPD withheld evidence, including undercover officer's eyewitness testimony of assassination

Officer Gene Roberts, an undercover officer with the NYPD embedded in the OAAU, was at the scene of Malcolm X's assassination. However, his superiors seemed more interested in his actions at the murder scene, particularly why he administered CPR to Malcolm X, an action Roberts viewed as part of his duty to protect life. Furthermore, Roberts' eyewitness testimony, which could have been critical to the investigation, was never solicited. The NYPD did not disclose Roberts’ presence at the scene to lead investigators, suggesting an intentional act of hiding evidence.

FBI withheld informant statements, possibly shielding real killer

Similarly, the FBI gathered statements from t ...

In a significant turn of events related to the infamous assassination of Malcolm X, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam were exonerated after decades of maintaining their innocence.

2020 Review Confirmed Aziz and Islam's Wrongful Conviction; Exonerated In 2021

Released on parole in the mid-1980s, Aziz and Islam's innocence is now widely recognized, even among academics, as historian David Garrow noted in the 2020 docuseries "Who Killed Malcolm X?" Following a petition by Abdur Rahman Muhammad to the New York Conviction Integrity Unit as seen in the same docuseries, Manhattan's District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance reviewed the murder charges against the two men. Vance officially exonerated Aziz and Islam of first-degree murder in November 2021.

Evidence Withheld by Law Enforcement Led To Aziz and Islam's Wrongful Incarceration

Evidence emerged that law enforcement agencies withheld key evidence that could have prevented Aziz and Islam's incarceration, confirmed by Vance's investigation. However, questions persisted about the roles of the other individuals Halim named and the extent of agency involvement.

Exoneration Left Questions About Haleem's Named Accomplices and Potential Government Agency Involvement in the Assassination and Cover-Up

Vance's efforts did not fully address the questions about Haleem's named accomplices or why the NYPD and FBI took actions resulting in a miscarriage of justice. Still, his investigation concluded that the FBI and NYPD could have done more to prevent Malcolm's assassination.

Malcolm's Family Files $100M Lawsuit Against CIA, FBI, NYPD, Alleging They Knew Of Danger, Involved In Assassination Cover-Up

In an ongoing search for justice, Malcolm X's daughters sued the CIA, FBI, NYPD, and others, seeking $100 million. They alle ...