
*On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced an executive order to release previously classified files related to the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and his brother, Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
Trump’s decision comes nearly 60 years after King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, a tragedy that remains a deeply personal loss for his family, who expressed their desire to review the files before their public release.
“For us, the assassination of our father is a deeply personal family loss that we have endured over the last 56 years. We hope to be provided the opportunity to review the files as a family before their public release,” the King family responded, highlighting the emotional weight of the matter.
Trump, while signing the order in the Oval Office, characterized the release of these files as “long overdue,” suggesting that “everything will be revealed.” The release is expected to be facilitated rapidly by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
King was shot and killed by James Earl Ray while standing on the second-floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He had traveled to Memphis to support striking sanitation workers, part of his broader commitment to economic justice and civil rights. The immediate aftermath of King’s assassination included widespread riots in over 100 cities across the U.S., underscoring the profound impact of his death on the nation.

The assassination itself came amid a backdrop of intense scrutiny and hostility from the FBI, which had undertaken extensive efforts to undermine King’s civil rights activism. The agency had previously sent an anonymous letter to King, believed to be an attempt to discredit him and drive him to suicide, highlighting the deeply unethical tactics employed against a leader advocating for racial equality.
Moreover, the FBI generated analyses of King’s associations, claiming he had numerous Communist connections based solely on the affiliations of a few individuals within his inner circle. Such accusations painted King as a radical in the eyes of many, despite his being a widely respected leader in the civil rights movement.
The response to Trump’s order has varied, with some questioning the motivations behind it. Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of President John F. Kennedy, commented that declassifying these files feels more like a political maneuver than an act of transparency. “Declassification is using JFK as a political prop when he’s not here to punch back,” Schlossberg stated. “There’s nothing heroic about it.”
In light of the complexities surrounding King’s assassination, including ongoing conspiracy theories about the events leading up to and following his death, the King family has been persistent in their pursuit of a comprehensive investigation into what truly happened. In a notable civil trial in 1999, King’s family successfully argued that a conspiracy involving government agencies was responsible for the assassination, a finding that diverges from official government conclusions which state that Ray acted alone.
James Earl Ray, the man convicted of King’s assassination, reportedly recanted his confession, asserting that he had been framed. Ray, an escaped convict, received a 99-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to avoid the death penalty. His claims, however, were never substantiated, and he spent the remainder of his life seeking to prove his innocence.

King’s expanding focus on broader societal issues, such as economic injustice and opposition to the Vietnam War, emphasizes the depth of his legacy. His visit to Memphis aligned with the Poor People’s Campaign, a movement aimed at addressing systemic poverty across racial lines—an issue that continues to resonate in today’s social justice landscape.
The impact of King’s assassination and the national mourning that followed catalyzed significant legislative actions, including President Lyndon B. Johnson’s push for the Fair Housing Act, which was passed just a week later. This is a testament to King’s enduring influence on American society and its legislative framework concerning civil rights.
As discussions about the release of these files continue, the King family remains focused on preserving Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy while seeking justice and transparency regarding his assassination. The Lorraine Motel, now part of the National Civil Rights Museum, stands as a poignant reminder of his life and the civil rights movement—a space dedicated to honoring his legacy and advocating for ongoing social justice.
In conclusion, Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination remains a pivotal moment in American history, and the release of the FBI files associated with it raises important questions about truth, justice, and the ongoing struggle for racial and economic equality in the United States. As the family seeks clarity and understanding, the nation must reflect on King’s profound impact and the lessons still to be learned from his life and work.

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