In an emotional meeting, Mayor Adams joined Atty. Ben Crump, Rev. Sharpton, and Malcolm X’s family as they honored the civil rights icon’s 100th birthday with a vow to secure a long-overdue resolution
NEW YORK, N.Y. (May 19, 2025) –– National civil rights attorney Ben Crump today issued a statement in response to Mayor Eric Adams’ remarks during a powerful press conference commemorating the 100th birthday of Malcolm X. In his comments, Mayor Adams pledged to help bring long-overdue justice to Malcolm X and his family. He committed to confronting the systemic failures and unanswered questions that have persisted for decades — and to resolving the family’s pending legal claims during his administration.
In November 2024, the estate of Malcolm X filed a lawsuit against the United States Government, Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the New York Police Department. The lawsuit alleges these entities played a significant role in the events leading to Malcolm X’s assassination and engaged in a decades-long cover-up to shield their involvement from the public.
Attorney Ben Crump released the following statement:
“I applaud Mayor Eric Adams for his powerful commitment today to finally uncovering the full truth about the assassination of one of the most transformative leaders in American history.
“His promise that he will do everything in his power as Mayor of New York City to get justice for Malcolm, and expeditiously resolve the ongoing legal matters with the family, signals an important step forward in the long fight for accountability and transparency. Malcolm X was more than a man, he was a movement. He was taken from us by a system that feared his power and his vision, and as Mayor Adams rightly said, there were many hands involved in that tragic and calculated act.
“We are encouraged by the Mayor’s recognition of the emotional toll this injustice continues to have on Malcolm’s family, the Black community, and our country. And we stand ready to work with him to close this painful chapter. Not just with words, but with real action.
“We must finish the work that Malcolm began. That means reckoning with our past honestly, holding institutions accountable, and ensuring that the legacy of Malcolm X is honored not only in memory, but in justice.”
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
