What MLK Jr. files have been released, and what have we learned?
Share this @internewscast.com


() The Trump administration recently released more than 230,000 files related to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

It comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order back in January directing full transparency on the assassinations of King, President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.

What files have been released, and what was learned?

The files that have been released and digitized detail the FBI’s investigation of King’s assassination, as well as documents relating to the international manhunt for James Earl Ray, the man who was convicted of killing King on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Another part of the files includes information about Ray’s former cellmate, who claimed that Ray had discussed an assassination plot.

It also shows the FBI’s surveillance of King before his death, as well as disinformation operations against him.

What are people looking for in the files?

A conspiracy theory surrounding King’s death is related to Ray’s claims that he did not shoot King and was forced to confess by authorities. Some also believe the government and possibly the Mafia were involved in the assassination and that Ray was set up to take the fall.

In 1979, a House committee determined that there was a likelihood Ray acted for monetary gain and that there was likely a conspiracy behind the shooting. The conspiracy likely stemmed from white supremacist groups, rather than the government, the panel said.

King’s two living children, Martin III and Bernice, released a statement in which they called their father’s case a “captivating public curiosity for decades” but asked for “empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief.”

They also emphasized the personal nature of the matter, urging that “these files must be viewed within their full historical context.”

The King Center, a nonprofit founded by Coretta Scott-King in 1968 following King’s death, noted a 1999 wrongful death civil lawsuit in Tennessee, where the jury concluded that Ray was not King’s shooter, and that King’s death was a conspiracy involving Memphis businessman Loyd Jowers and unnamed co-conspirators, including government agencies as a part of a wider scheme.

“Our family views that verdict as an affirmation of our long-held beliefs,” the family said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Orlando Magic Serves Up Thanksgiving Breakfast for Coalition for the Homeless

ORLANDO, Fla. – Demonstrating their enduring dedication to community service, the Orlando…

High-Speed Chase on I-95: ‘Super Speeder’ Nabbed at 111 MPH in Brevard County

TITUSVILLE, Fla. – In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, a…

Asian Markets Show Mixed Performance Amid Holiday-Thinned Trading as Wall Street Pauses for Thanksgiving

MANILA – Asian markets presented a mixed picture on Friday, with trading…

Fern & Fable Collective Grand Opening This Friday in Jonesborough: A New Hub for Art and Community

Jonesborough, Tenn. (WJHL) — A charming new addition is coming to Jonesborough,…

Israeli Raid in Southern Syria Leaves at Least 10 Dead, Eyewitnesses Report

DAMASCUS – In a tense incident on Friday, Israeli forces entered a…

Haven of Mercy Ministries Serves Thanksgiving Meals to 4,000 Locals

In Johnson City, Tennessee, Haven of Mercy Ministries extended their generosity this…

Join the Excitement: 5,000+ Runners Celebrate Milestone 20th Turkey Trot Event!

In 2005, a wave of innovation swept across the globe, marking a…

Empowering Women in Farming: Join the Livestock Conference in Greeneville on Feb. 19-20

Elizabethton’s Feast of Sharing: Nourishing Meals and Warm Clothes Unite Community

In Elizabethton, Tennessee, the First Baptist Church has once again opened its…

Senator Rick Scott’s Florida Residence Targeted in Thanksgiving Swatting Incident

NAPLES, Fla. – On Thanksgiving morning, U.S. Senator Rick Scott’s residence in…

Energy Diplomacy: Hungary’s Viktor Orbán Meets Putin in Moscow for Strategic Talks

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during a meeting with President Donald…

Trump Condemns U.S. Refugee Program for Afghan Allies: Sparks Debate on Support for Anti-Taliban Fighters

Authorities have identified a man accused of shooting two National Guard members…