While the newly released federal documents related to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination have not revealed any unexpected findings, Lerone A. Martin, director of Stanford’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, says there is still much to consider in these records.
Martin Luther King Jr., in a 1968 speech, urged Americans to honor the rights outlined in the Constitution. At that time, however, his own rights were being violated by a “no holds barred” FBI counterintelligence campaign. According to Martin, who also serves as professor of religious studies and of African and African American studies at Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences, this campaign included illegal wiretaps on King’s phone and bugging hotel rooms during his travels. The FBI also spread information aiming to portray him as an immoral communist.
The National Archives released more than 230,000 pages of digitized records on July 21. These documents had been sealed until 2027 to protect individuals whose personal information was illegally collected; some will remain sealed for two more years.
The research team at the King Institute continues to review these documents. Martin noted that significant new information is unlikely but emphasized the importance of public reflection: “The real story here is not about the purported failings of a human being; it is about what happens when you have a government that is not accountable to the people that it governs,” he said. “I hope that as a society, we’ll be able to have that conversation.”
One insight from the release is that many records were created as part of efforts to discredit King. From 1963 onward, the FBI maintained close surveillance for five years without finding him guilty of any federal crime. The agency sought assistance from elected officials, journalists, and clergy members in its counterintelligence program against him.
Martin pointed out that readers should approach these claims with skepticism: “I think we forget that at one point in time, Martin Luther King Jr. was not liked,” he said. “He was inconvenient because he spoke truth to power in many ways.” Despite preaching nonviolence, King was blamed by authorities for violence at marches. President Lyndon Johnson did not attend his funeral after King’s assassination in 1968; it took until 1983 for President Ronald Reagan to establish a national holiday honoring King.
Another takeaway is that these files do not clarify conspiracy theories around King’s assassination. Although some hoped for new evidence implicating others beyond James Earl Ray—the man convicted for King’s murder—little new information has emerged from this release. After confessing in 1969 and later recanting, Ray maintained his innocence until his death. In 1999, a civil suit brought by King’s family resulted in a jury finding credible evidence of a broader conspiracy; however, the U.S. Department of Justice declined further investigation.
Some newly released records describe investigations into Ray and include interviews with his brother who doubted Ray’s guilt but offer no definitive answers.
Martin emphasized how earlier releases showed FBI attempts to blame King for violence before his death and efforts by government agencies to halt his work: “You do see the FBI trying to create a reality around King and then trying to make moves against him based on the reality they’re creating,” he said.
The release presents an educational opportunity for students and the public alike since all files are available through the National Archives website (https://www.archives.gov/). The King Institute at Stanford involves undergraduate researchers in examining these materials so they can learn how government agencies used information strategically—and sometimes misleadingly—against individuals like King.
“This is a historic moment, and I think that they should be a part of it,” Martin said regarding student involvement with primary sources. He added: “But even more than that, it’s important that young people who are going to be engaged citizens be made aware of history and what happens when there is a lack of government accountability.”
When sensitive or questionable material arises during their research process, students discuss credibility together—a skill Martin considers essential amid widespread misinformation today.
Despite negative or misleading content found within these records or elsewhere online about Dr. King’s life or legacy, Martin believes King’s dedication remains clear: “We’ll get a chance to see how committed Martin Luther King Jr. was to democratic ideals,” he said. “He was hunted and surveilled, yet he still continued. I think that should inspire us.”
Media contact for further inquiries is Sara Zaske at Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences (510-872-0340).
