The US government released over 240,000 pages of FBI surveillance records on Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, YYYY-MM-DD, despite objections from his family. Martin Luther King III and Bernice King expressed concern that the release lacked proper historical context and would further their family’s enduring grief over his 1968 assassination. They urged those accessing the files to show empathy and respect. The King Center, led by Bernice King, called the release “unfortunate and ill-timed,” suggesting the focus should be on current injustices.

Bernice King's Instagram post referencing the Jeffrey Epstein files fueled further controversy. Reverend Al Sharpton criticized the release, alleging it was a distraction tactic from the Epstein files and President Trump's potential involvement. The King family had prior access to review the files.

Impact Statement: The release of the files has sparked renewed debate about the assassination and reignited conversations about the ongoing fight for civil rights and justice in the US.