US declassifies more than 230,000 pages on Martin Luther King Jr. assassination

Washington.- The U.S. Government announced this Monday the publication of more than 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred in April 1968 in Memphis (Tennessee).

"The American people deserve answers decades after the horrific assassination of one of our nation's great leaders," said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi today, announcing the declassification. Bondi received activist and niece of the murdered leader, Alveda King, at the Department of Justice headquarters in Washington to commemorate the event, the Department of Justice reported in a statement. "I am grateful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for keeping their promise of transparency by releasing these documents," King expressed. "My uncle lived with courage in search of truth and justice, and his legacy of faith continues to inspire Americans to this day," he added. The niece of the African-American leader, born in Atlanta (Georgia) in 1929, stated that the declassification and publication of these documents is "a historic step towards the truth that the American people deserve". During the meeting, Bondi and King discussed the life and legacy of Reverend King, as well as the importance of shedding light on his death at the age of 39. Martin Luther King Jr. was a pastor and leader of the civil rights movement in the U.S., recognized for his peaceful fight against racism and inequality. His historical 'I Have a Dream' speech ('Tengo un sueño') and his role in the approval of key laws made him a global historical figure. The reverend was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, while supporting a workers' strike. His death generated national shock and reinforced his legacy as a symbol of the fight for justice and equality. According to the Department of Justice, the declassification is the result of months of joint work with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).