From Vox · Andrew Prokop · · 40s
FBI letter to MLK urging suicide
FBI sent Martin Luther King Jr. a suicide letter in 1963.
In brief
FBI sent Martin Luther King Jr. a suicide letter in 1963. The FBI tried to convince MLK to commit suicide by threatening to expose his sexual misconduct. Originally reported by Vox.
FBI surveillance on MLK
The FBI marked MLK as the most dangerous negro in 1963 after his 'I Have a Dream' speech.
FBI's sexual misconduct threat
The FBI sent an unredacted letter to MLK's home threatening to expose his sexual misconduct.
Letter's suicide demand
The letter told MLK he had 34 days to commit suicide or face public exposure.
“There is only one thing left for you to do. You know what it is. You have just 34 days”
King's response
King and his advisers concluded the letter was from the FBI and did not commit suicide.
The essence
The FBI tried to convince MLK to commit suicide by threatening to expose his sexual misconduct.
