Malcolm X is assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom

Malcolm X was shot and killed while preparing to speak at an OAAU rally in Harlem. The assassination took place after threats, a firebombing, and extensive government surveillance of his organizations. Three men were convicted in 1966, but in 2021 the convictions of Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam were vacated after a reinvestigation found major problems, including undisclosed evidence. The identity and full responsibility of those who planned the murder remain contested; allegations of government complicity must be distinguished from established findings.