A letter that was written by the former New York City police officer before his death has accused the NYPD and FBI of the killing of civil rights activist Malcolm X on February 21, 1965.
The assassination of the popular African-American Muslim minister and a flag bearer of the civil rights movement – Malcolm X, back in 1965 on February 21, has witnessed an unprecedented emergence, adding yet another dimension to American politics and culture.
After over half a century of the civil rights activist’s death, a former New York City police officer has in this letter alleged that the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had hidden the essential details of the murder.
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Raymond Wood, the former undercover NYPD police officer has allegedly mentioned in the letter before his death that the department and FBI withheld the knowledge of the murder. He also added that he was told to intrude on the civil rights movement and that the security guards of Malcolm X had been arrested right before the murder.
Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, inside Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom in New York. The assassins were identified as members of the Nation of Islam, and three of them were arrested and imprisoned for murder. They were ultimately released on parole.
In a press conference on Saturday, Raymond Wood’s letter was read aloud by one of his relatives Reggie Wood.
It said: “I participated in actions that in hindsight were deplorable and detrimental to the advancement of my own Black people. My actions on behalf of the New York City Police Department were done under duress and fear.”
The letter claimed that the execution of arrest by Wood was indicative of the fact that Malcolm X had no protection at the entrance to the Audubon Ballroom where he spoke that day.
As stated by Reggie Wood, Raymond Wood was not willing to disclose the letter as long as he was alive because he was apprehensive of the consequences that the accusations would pose on him, especially by the authorities.
Three daughters of Malcolm X and Wood’s lawyer Ben Crump demanded a further probe into the matter in the wake of these allegations. “Any evidence that provides greater insight into the truth behind that terrible tragedy should be thoroughly investigated,” Ilyasah Shabazz, one of Malcolm’s daughters, said.
MEDIA ALERT: @AttorneyCrump & Reggie Wood to hold news conference on 2/20 at 12:30 ET to deliver new evidence regarding the assassination of Malcolm X to his daughters & the Manhattan DA following a deathbed declaration from Ray Wood, an undercover police officer at the time. pic.twitter.com/xadqNs5mlR
— Ben Crump Law, PLLC (@BenCrumpLaw) February 19, 2021
A statement from the NYPD all the details related to the case has been forwarded to the Manhattan District Attorney and that “the department remains committed to assist with that review in any way.”
However, there wasn’t any statement from the FBI in this regard.
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Ben Crump also issued a statement saying, “Ray Wood, an undercover police officer at the time, confessed in a deathbed declaration letter that the NYPD and the FBI conspired to undermine the legitimacy of the civil rights movement and its leaders.”
The statement also said that Wood’s work was to infiltrate the civil rights groups and induce the members to perform treasonous acts.
“He was also tasked with ensuring that Malcolm X’s security detail was arrested days prior to the assassination, guaranteeing Malcolm X didn’t have door security while at the Audubon Ballroom, where he was killed on Feb. 21, 1965.”
The Manhattan District Attorney Office’s director of communication stated that an investigation of the matter is in the process. “Our office’s review of this matter is active and ongoing.”