The Presidential Administration of the United States took an unprecedented step by declassifying an extensive array of government archives related to three landmark political assassinations from the second half of the 20th century. On January 23, a presidential decree was issued to reveal classified documents that were previously hidden from the public.
The National Archives committed to publishing documentary evidence of the tragic events that shook American society. The declassified materials cover nearly 230,000 pages, including detailed FBI investigations, international searches, and witness testimonies.
The documents relate to the assassinations of President John Kennedy in 1963, his brother Robert Kennedy, and civil rights activist Martin Luther King in 1968. The Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard personally confirmed the authenticity of the disclosed materials.
Despite the official declassification, Martin Luther King's family expressed serious concerns about the potential use of the documents. They emphasized that there is a risk of discrediting his legacy and the achievements of the civil rights movement.
The activist's children recalled the historical context related to the targeted disinformation campaign organized by then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. They categorically disputed the official version about the killer James Earl Ray, insisting that there are unresolved circumstances surrounding the crime.
Martin Luther King's murder was committed on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, during a visit in support of striking workers. James Earl Ray, identified as a white segregationist, was convicted of the crime and died in prison in 1998.
The declassification of the archives marks the beginning of a new stage in understanding these traumatic historical events, providing an opportunity for a more in-depth and objective analysis of American political history.