Malcolm X (25 page)

Malcolm X
c/o Temple No. 7 Restaurant
113 Lenox Avenue
C-62

[BUREAU DELETION] the code letters “C-62” indicates an FPCC member whose membership comes up for renewal in the third quarter of 1962.

SECTION 8

November 16, 1962–May 13, 1963

Section 8
outlines the events surrounding the shooting death of NOI member Ronald Stokes by Los Angeles policemen and sketches the growing tension between Malcolm and Elijah Muhammad's family. Malcolm's role in the aftermath of the shooting was highly visible, and Los Angeles Mayor Samuel Yorty increased that visibility on June 6 by playing a tape in which Malcolm publicly referred to a French airline crash as Allah's divine revenge against the white race for the travesty in California. Yorty recommended wide publication of the statement “so the public could understand the threats of this philosophy.”

The FBI soon decided that Yorty's methods were impractical because they tended to create interest in the NOI, even though they were designed to create the opposite effect. Assistant Director W.C. Sullivan here divulges an important policy decision, which is the policy of “taking no steps which would give them (NOI) additional publicity.” This is one of the few examples of policy analysis which occurs in this edition of the file. An FBI agent offers his analysis of Malcolm's appeal in a memo relating a
Charlotte speech of January 30. The agent discusses in depth how Malcolm “unites the individuals into an emotional entity, how he achieves rapport, reaches common understanding and responsiveness as he fuses individuals into a unit.”

Synopsis:

Subject continues to reside at 23-11 97th Street, East Elmhurst, Queens, NY, and is Minister of NOI Temple No. 7, NYC and also considered a National NOI official, and the right hand man of ELIJAH MUHAMMAD. Subject's NOI activities and speeches at NYC and around the U.S. set out. Subject attempted to rally other Negroes in Los Angeles, California, to protest against the killing of a NOI member during a shooting incident between NOI members and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). Subject's public appearances set out and he apparently has canceled all future college appearances. Subject invited to integration rally, Englewood, NJ, but did not attend when opposition
developed among Negro leaders. Subject's association with Communist movement set out.

Subject's Activities Following the
Los Angeles Shooting Incident

Outlined below are the activities of the subject on behalf of the NOI following a shooting incident on April 27, 1962, between Los Angeles NOI members and the LAPD in Los Angeles, California, at which one NOI member was killed, several wounded and a number arrested. Also set forth are activities by the subject as a result of this incident in concert with various Los Angeles groups who protested alleged police brutality against the Negro population there.

Subject attended and conducted funeral services held at 5606 South Broadway, Los Angeles, California, on May 5, 1962, for NOI member RONALD STOKES who was killed on April 27, 1962, in a shooting incident between Los Angeles NOI members and the LAPD.

[BUREAU DELETION]

The May 10, 1962 edition of the
Los Angeles Herald Dispatch
, a weekly Negro newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, contained an article which reflected that a crowd of over two thousand attended the funeral of RONALD STOKES, a Muslim, who was shot down by local police, which services were held at 5606 South Broadway, Los Angeles, California, on May 5, 1962, and conducted by the subject.

The May 10, 1962 edition of the
Los Angeles Herald Dispatch
also contained an article which reflected that on May 4, 1962, in the Statler-Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, California, subject had held a press conference relative to the shooting on April 27, 1962, of seven Los Angeles NOI members, one of whom (RONALD STOKES) died.

The article reflected that subject's opening statement was that “. . . Seven innocent unarmed black men were shot down in cold blood by Police Chief WILLIAM J. PARKER's Los Angeles City Police.” The article continued that subject referred to the incident as “one of the most ferocious, inhuman atrocities ever inflicted in a so-called ‘democratic' and ‘civilized' society,” and
subject referred to the death of STOKES as a “brutal and cold blooded murder by PARKER's well-armed storm troopers.”

This article went on to say that according to the subject, the official version of the incident which was related in the “white press” was that the Muslims were engaged in a gun battle with police provoked by the Muslims. Subject ridiculed this article saying that the Muslims obey the law religiously and he further ridiculed the “white press” for helping Chief PARKER “suppress the facts.”

Also during this conference, the subject refused to clarify how one of the white policemen was shot, stating that he was acting on the advice of the attorneys of the Muslims who were accused and arrested for assault.

The May 17, 1962 edition of the
Los Angeles Herald Dispatch
contained an article which reflected that a Los Angeles Coroner's Jury inquiring into the death of RONALD STOKES on April 27, 1962, at the hands of the LAPD, ruled that it was “justifiable homicide under lawful performance of duty and in self defense.” The article further indicated that only the police officers testified and that the nine Muslims who were arrested at the scene refused to testify and left the hearing after being advised that they were not required to testify if they thought their testimony might incriminate them.

This same article quoted the subject as saying after hearing the above verdict that STOKES's death was “a murder in cold blood” and that the Muslims “despaired of getting justice” and would pray to “God that he gives justice in his own way.” The article went on to say that in response to questions the subject stated that Muslims obey the law, do not carry firearms and are never the aggressors but if attacked have their God-given right to defend themselves.

The May 24, 1962 edition of the
Los Angeles Herald Dispatch
contained an article which reflected that a protest rally against police brutality was held in Los Angeles on May 20, 1962, at the Park Manor Auditorium which was sponsored by the “County Civic League,” the latter being described in the article as an
independent organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of the black community.

The article reflected that the subject spoke at this meeting and is quoted as saying “… Not a Muslim but a black man was shot down.” The article indicated that the subject reiterated the importance of not letting religious, political, social or economic differences divide the blacks. He further stated, according to the article, “For you're brutalized because you're black and when they lay a club on the side of your head, they do not ask your religion. You're black, that's enough.”

At this above mentioned rally held on May 20, 1962, [BUREAU DELETION] during the subject's speech, he said that black people all over the world are uniting. Socialists, Communists and Liberalists [
sic
] all are coming together to get rid of the common enemy with white skin.

[BUREAU DELETION] that early in June, 1962, [BUREAU DELETION] at the Holman Methodist Church, Los Angeles, California, during which a bulletin was passed out that had on its back “A Manifesto for Clergymen of the Los Angeles Area.” [BUREAU DELETION] the bulletin indicated that this manifesto was being issued as a result of the killing of a Muslim by the LAPD. This manifesto indicated that the Negro Ministers did not condone police brutality but that they were in no way related to or in sympathy with the Muslim movement.

The June 6, 1962 edition of the
Los Angeles Herald Examiner
contained an article which reflected that news media of Southern California were asked by Los Angeles Mayor SAMUEL W. YORTY to publicize statements made by the subject at an NOI meeting in Los Angeles, California. The article indicated that Mayor YORTY, during a press conference in his office, played a tape recording of the NOI meeting which included a speech by the subject during which the latter said in regard to the crash of a jet airliner in Paris, France, in which all the passengers were killed:

Following the playing of the above recording the article indicated that Mayor YORTY stated that he did not believe that MALCOLM X or the black Muslims had the support of the Los Angeles Negro community and urged that wide publicity be given to this statement of MALCOLM X so the public could understand the threats of this philosophy.

Animosity Between Subject and the
Family of ELIJAH MUHAMMAD

On several dates during February, March and April, 1963, [BUREAU DELETION] there was developing a feeling of resentment and animosity against the subject by members of ELIJAH MUHAMMAD's family. This resentment apparently stems from MALCOLM's taking charge and running the NOI Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on February 26, 1963, when illness precluded ELIJAH MUHAMMAD's attendance. The family was especially resentful of subject's attempts to advise and tell the family what to do and of statements he was allegedly making against ELUAH and his family.

This resentment was further aggravated, [BUREAU DELETION] by subject's remaining in Chicago for several weeks after the convention where he made numerous appearances and speeches in the Chicago area. On the request of members of the family, ELIJAH MUHAMMAD, who was still in Phoenix, Arizona, ordered subject to return to New York City, which he did on March 10, 1963, canceling his future scheduled appearances around Chicago. The excuse utilized for leaving the Chicago area was that subject had to return home and assist his wife who had fallen and broken her leg, which in fact she had done.

A possible incident reflecting the reason for some of this resentment is indicated below:

At the NOI Convention in Chicago, Illinois, on February 26, 1963, subject's speech was interrupted several times by an apparent request to allow ELIJAH's son WALLACE MUHAMMAD, to speak. Subject refused to heed this request and stated that due to the late start it would not be possible for WALLACE to speak. However, subject did introduce those members of ELIJAH's family who were present.