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.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to ta...
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet esc...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he clai...
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
A six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-held Ukrainian town of Oleshky ended on Sunday, 1 November, after facilitating aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as Central Asia’s fastest-growing economy, fuelled by a construction boom, public investment and trade linked to Russia. But with Western sanctions tightening, can the country sustain its rapid growth?
Russia airstrikes on a school used as a humanitarian aid distribution point in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 26 people, including rescue workers and police officers, Ukrainian officials said. Another 27 people were reported missing.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to tackle corruption and tighten control over the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet escorts. No explosives have been found, raising questions about who is behind the alerts and whether the disruption itself is the goal.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he claims to have reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukraine's negotiators will meet with Russian and U.S. delegations in Abu Dhabi next week for the first peace talks mediated by Washington since February.
Spanish police are investigating the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died after a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a second-division football match. The case raises questions about when an on-field challenge can become a criminal offence.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment