The U.S. government has released more than 230,000 pages of documents related to the 1968 assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., nearly six decades after his death.
The records were published following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced the declassification, calling it an “historic step toward transparency.”
The release is the first time all known federal documents linked to King’s assassination have been digitised and made available in one collection, with minimal redactions. While some of the material had been made public through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, many of the files had never been published or reviewed in decades.
“This is the American people’s history, and they have waited long enough to see the full scope of the federal investigation into Dr. King’s death,” Gabbard said.
The documents include:
The release was coordinated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), in partnership with the Department of Justice, the FBI, the CIA, and the National Archives.
“This marks a major milestone in the White House’s commitment to transparency,” said Secretary of State and Acting U.S. Archivist Marco Rubio.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and interagency cooperation, we were able to review and release these records at unprecedented speed.”
Two weeks ahead of the release, members of the King family were invited to review the material. Dr. Alveda King, niece of the slain civil rights leader, welcomed the move.
“I am grateful to President Trump and DNI Gabbard for delivering on their pledge of transparency,” she said. “While we continue to mourn his death, this is an historic step toward the truth that the American people deserve.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi also praised the release, calling it “a fulfilment of the American people’s right to answers decades after the loss of one of our nation’s great leaders.”
CIA Director John Ratcliffe added, “The CIA is proud to support The White House’s historic initiative to declassify intelligence information in the public interest.”
The release builds on earlier efforts by Trump to declassify files related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
Officials say more Martin Luther King related material may still be located and released. Any future files will be added to the online archive, ensuring all records are centralised and accessible to the public.
Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on 4 April 1968, while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was 39 years old. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the killing and received a 99-year prison sentence, but doubts and conspiracy theories about the case have persisted over the years.
A federal judge ordered U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, sayin...
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meetin...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of having a “bullying mentality” at the United Nations Gene...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in New York on Wednesday, as Washington pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine and Kyiv and Moscow continue to strike energy infrastructure.
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stops targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, critical infrastructure, and food exports, as he prepared to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in New York.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York that he described as “very good” and “productive”, with another round of talks scheduled soon.
A federal judge ordered U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday to restore White House access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, saying his ban on the three media outlets was likely unconstitutional.
As the Ukraine war is highlighted by some leaders during the United Nations' 81st General Assembly meeting in New York, Russian forces attacked the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Thursday with ballistic missiles, killing two people and injuring six, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
Executives from leading artificial intelligence companies warned the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that increasingly powerful AI systems could pose serious risks to humanity and international security, calling for governments to work together to manage the technology.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei criticised the United Nations on Wednesday for what he described as looking “the other way” as tensions with Britain escalate over oil exploration around the Falkland Islands.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment