Former President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to declassify files on major assassinations, including that of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has sparked reactions from the late civil rights leader’s family. Trump, during the signing of the order, stated, “A lot of people have been waiting for this for years…decades. Everything will be revealed.”
The files, which also pertain to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, are set to be reviewed and released to the public in stages. The declassification process requires the director of national intelligence and the attorney general to formulate a plan within 15 days.
MLK Jr’s Family’s Statement
Dr. King’s daughter, Bernice King, released a statement on behalf of the family, emphasizing the personal nature of the files. She shared, “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 prior to their public release.”
The family also clarified that they would not be engaging in interviews or public commentary regarding the matter at this time.
For decades, the King family has raised concerns about the official narrative surrounding Dr. King’s assassination. James Earl Ray was convicted of the murder, but many, including the King family, believe the truth involves a broader conspiracy.
In 1999, the family’s suspicions were bolstered when a civil trial jury concluded there was indeed a conspiracy involving multiple parties. The trial implicated Loyd Jowers, a Memphis businessman who claimed he had a role in the assassination plot.
The King family’s call for transparency and truth has remained consistent over the years. They hope the declassified files will provide new insights into a tragedy that reshaped American history.
As Bernice King stated, “We seek the truth not only for our family but for the preservation of my father’s legacy of justice and nonviolence.”