FBI–King letter

The FBI–King suicide letter or blackmail package was an anonymous 1964 letter and package by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which was allegedly meant to blackmail Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into committing suicide.

[3] The letter does not specify exactly what action it is urging King to undertake; King understood the letter to advocate that he commit suicide,[1] although some have suggested that it was urging him to decline the Nobel Peace Prize which he was awarded in 1964,[4] or step out of leadership.

During the Church Committee hearings and investigations in 1975, a copy of the "suicide letter" was discovered in the work files of William C. Sullivan, deputy FBI director.

[citation needed] The full letter was discovered in J. Edgar Hoover's confidential files at the National Archives in 2014 by historian Beverly Gage.

"[1] Gage noted that some still claim the letter's intent was "simply meant to push King out, not induce suicide."

and that an uncovered portion of the letter suggested that FBI wanted King to step down and let other men lead the civil rights movement, stating that "Another uncovered portion of the note praises “older leaders” like the N.A.A.C.P.

executive director Roy Wilkins, urging King to step aside and let other men lead the civil rights movement.

In view of your low grade, abnormal personal behavoir [sic] I will not dignify your name with either a Mr. or a Reverend or a Dr. And, your last name calls to mind only the type of King such as King Henry VIII and his countless acts of adultery and immoral conduct lower than that of a beast.

You will find yourself and in all your dirt, filth, evil and moronic talk exposed on the record for all time.

You will find on the record for all time your filthy, dirty, evil companions, male and females giving expression with you to your hidious abnormalities.

The American public, the church organizations that have been helping — Protestant, Catholic and Jews will know you for what you are — an evil, abnormal beast.

You have just 34 days in which to do (this exact number has been selected for a specific reason, it has definite practical significant.