The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 18

January 19, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 4 Features A look at the 25th Amendment Right-wing extremism rampant in D.C. protests, BLM banner burned On Jan. 13, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for his actions connected to the attack on the Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6. Voting in favor of the article of impeachment, which charged the president with incitement of insurrection, 293 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including 10 republicans, made an unprecedented and historic move to impeach Trump for a second time during his four year term, an action that has never been taken against a sitting U.S. president. However, a second impeachment isn’t the only unprecedented action that’s been considered since the attack. The announcement of the impeachment followed the passage of a non-binding On Dec. 12, Trump supporters took to the streets in Washington D.C. to protest the results of the 2020 presidential election. The protest turned violent, causing the reported vandalization of four churches and resulting in more than three dozen arrests, according to the Washington Post. These events seemingly foreshadowed what would later occur in the coming weeks Among those protesting the president- elect, Joe Biden, were the Proud Boys. The Proud Boys are a violent, male-only, right- wing organization that has been accused of racism, misogyny, xenophobia and white supremacy. They have denied all of these claims, however, continue to participate in violent acts towards protesters of color. They have been labeled by the Southern Poverty resolution earlier in the week calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. What is the 25th Amendment, and what does it do? Continue reading for some insight into how the amendment came to be and to learn how it could be used as Trump’s term comes to an end. The 25th Amendment enumerates the power of the vice president and a majority of the members of the cabinet to remove the president if they deem him or her unfit to continue serving as president. Charles Zelden, a professor of history and political science in the department of humanities and politics at NSU, explained that the 25th Amendment was passed as a way to remedy a “hole” in the Constitution. “The Constitution says there’s a president Law Center as a “hate group.” Ironically enough, after the first 2020 presidential debate, President Trump formally condemned the Proud Boys, stating, “I don’t know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn that.” That night in D.C., the Proud Boys removed a BLM sign from Asbury United Methodist Church’s grounds and promptly set fire to it in the middle of the street. Video footage shows members gathered around the burning sign, some actively participating in the burning. Rev. Ianther M. Mills, the pastor for Asbury, issued a public statement regarding the group and their actions, condemning them and likening the act to “cross burnings.” The D.C. Metropolitan police department stated that they would reward anyone with any Gill Out: Go Pho GoPho 2262 S University Dr, Davie, FL 33324 Monday - Sunday 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. $$ NSU is a unique and lively campus, but that doesn’t mean Sharks can’t band together and take an afternoon to explore the South Florida area — even if that just means finding a quaint place to study. As a self-proclaimed pho fanatic, I was ecstatic when a new pho restaurant opened in the Tower Shops plaza in Davie, FL. Because of COVID-19 and being home for the holidays, it wasn’t until last week that I finally had the opportunity to go and try it out. In terms of location, Go Pho is the perfect spot for NSU students to grab a quick bite to eat in between classes or to venture to when they need a study break. Less than a five-minute drive from campus, Tower Shops already boasts an impressive list of go-to places to shop and dine, a list that now includes my new favorite pho restaurant. After explaining what pho was to my boyfriend for what felt like the 50th time, I finally convinced him to try it out with me and we decided to head to Go Pho for dinner. With endearing, but modern decor and a bright neon light with the saying “dude it’s pho, not phu,” I immediately enjoyed the chill vibe of the restaurant. With an “order at the front and seat yourself” system, it was the perfect blend of quick and easy food and a great dine-in setting. The fact that all of the staff were wearing masks and the plastic shields between tables made me feel at ease about enjoying an indoor experience. As a vegetarian, I was not disappointed by the number of vegetarian-friendly options on the menu. I ordered the tofu pho while my boyfriend opted for the chicken option. I also ordered a small Thai tea -- my must-try at any place that offers it. The food came out quickly and definitely met my high pho standards. Although I wish there had been more veggies in my pho and the Thai tea had been a little thinner, everything was delicious and left us both wanting more. So much so, we came back again two days later for a quick lunch. When we ate there the second time, we decided to top off the meal with some delicious beignets that came with a bright green pandan sauce, the perfect way to hit the spot after a warm filling meal. For anyone who enjoys pho or wants to step out of their comfort zone and try something new, I definitely recommend Go Pho. and vice president, and the vice president takes over the president dies, but what happens when the president is incapacitated? What happens if the president is not in a position to be, effectively, the president? The Constitution didn’t provide for any way to shift power on a temporary basis, so the 25th Amendment was set to do that,” said Zelden. Historically, the 25th Amendment has been invoked in temporary circumstances, such as when a sitting president has needed to undergo anesthesia for a medical procedure, but it has never been used to remove the president from office. While never used for that purpose, there is little doubt that the vice president and the cabinet members possess the power to do so, but what happens if they do? \ After a majority of the cabinet and the information leading to an arrest and that those responsible would likely be charged with a hate crime. This led to the group’s leader, Enrique Tarrio, taking to his Parler account to claim responsibility for the burning. “I did it,” wrote Tarrio, but said he was not motivated by race, religion nor political ideology. USA Today described the Proud Boys under Tarrio as “a de facto army of fighters who traverse the nation getting into brawls, setting fire to Black Lives Matter banners and attacking Antifa protesters.” The investigation is ongoing, but on Jan. 4th, Tarrio was arrested in D.C. and charged with a misdemeanor, one count of destruction of property. He was released without bond and ordered to reappear in D.C. only for his court date, but never to enter the city otherwise. vice president decide that the president is unfit to fulfill the duties of the office, they would invoke the 25th Amendment, calling for the president to step down from office. If the president objects, the amendment requires a ⅔ majority vote in both houses of Congress to override the objection. As Zelden said, “It’s not an easy process to be done, but it’s there.” With President Trump’s term as the president of the United States coming to a close tomorrow, there is little chance that the 25th Amendment will have any effect on the outcome of the transition of power. However, it is sure to gain a few lines in the history book that will recount the unprecedented events of the past two weeks. The reason for this ban became clearer on Jan. 6, the day Trump supporters, including Qanon and the Proud Boys, stormed the Capitol building in a violent insurrection. The failed coup, allegedly egged on by President Trump, has left five dead, dozens injured and many facing jail time. As a result, President Trump, who dragged his feet with the police response and issued sympathetic statements to the mob, has been impeached by the House of Representatives. However, the Senate does not plan to reconvene until Jan. 19, a day before Biden’s inauguration as president. Even though the rioters, and even President Trump, are facing justice, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the events of Jan. 6 were forecasted on Dec. 12. PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY E. HEINMAN An order of pho meal at Go Pho By: Emma Heineman Features Editor By: Rey Perez Contributing Writer By: Emma Heineman Features Editor