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Martin Luther King Jr.
Civil Rights Leader / FBI Target
Preeminent civil rights leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner, target of FBI harassment
Overview
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the preeminent leader of the American civil rights movement, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and target of an extensive FBI harassment campaign. J. Edgar Hoover called him"the most dangerous Negro in America."The FBI surveilled him constantly, sent him a letter encouraging suicide, and attempted to destroy him through disinformation. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Questions about FBI involvement in his death persist.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
FBI TARGETING: The FBI began surveilling King in 1955 and intensified after the 1963 March on Washington. Hoover received authorization for extensive wiretapping from Attorney General Robert Kennedy.
THE SUICIDE LETTER: In 1964, the FBI sent King an anonymous package containing an alleged recording of extramarital affairs and a letter calling him a"fraud"and strongly suggesting he commit suicide before being exposed.
CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE: FBI bugged King's home, office, and hotel rooms. Agents followed him constantly. The FBI shared surveillance information with media outlets and political figures to discredit him.
COINTELPRO OPERATIONS: Under COINTELPRO, the FBI attempted to prevent King from receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, tried to find a"suitable"replacement leader, and sought to destroy his marriage and reputation.
OPPOSITION TO VIETNAM: King's 1967 speech opposing the Vietnam War intensified FBI hostility. The FBI saw his antiwar stance as evidence of communist influence.
ASSASSINATION QUESTIONS: King was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968. James Earl Ray confessed but later recanted. The King family believes Ray was a patsy and has called for a full investigation of government involvement.
CIVIL TRIAL VERDICT: In 1999, a civil jury found that government agencies were part of a conspiracy to assassinate King. The verdict received minimal media coverage.
DOCUMENTS SEALED: Many FBI documents about King remain classified until 2027. The continued secrecy fuels suspicion about what the government is hiding.
Related Investigations (4)
Known Associates & Connections
J. Edgar Hoover
Orchestrated harassment campaign
Robert F. Kennedy
Authorized wiretaps as AG
Sources & Documentation
4 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
Education
Key Timeline
January 15, 1929
Born in Atlanta, Georgia
1955
Leads Montgomery Bus Boycott, FBI begins surveillance
1963
March on Washington,"I Have a Dream"speech
1963
FBI Director Hoover calls him"most dangerous Negro"
1964
Receives Nobel Peace Prize
November 1964
FBI sends anonymous"suicide letter"
April 4, 1967
"Beyond Vietnam"speech opposing war
April 4, 1968
Assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee
1999
Civil jury finds government conspiracy in assassination
2027
Some FBI documents scheduled for declassification