2. The 25th Amendment

The Cabinet Meeting

Malcolm

Silence gripped the room. Over the last 6 hours, words had been expressed, and many more still needed to be heard, dissected and discussed. After all, this was the most important cabinet meeting in the history of the Republic. Every Cabinet member - their seats designated by gold-plated name tags - was represented at the large oak table.

Malcolm sat at the head, massaging the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. He knew that what he was doing would be met with stiff resistance. This decision had kept him up every night since that fateful day at the Capitol just seven days ago. He knew that his colleagues would not understand the severity of the matter at hand because none of them were actually in the Capitol that day.

But Malcolm was.

And every day since, he knew that something had to be done. If this country wanted its freedom from white supremacy, it would have to make some serious sacrifices. Malcolm knew Martin was not up for the challenge - but he also knew that he never intended to be.

“This is ludicrous.”

Malcolm heard the words but had his eyes closed, head bowed. He opened them, searching the room for who was responsible for the objection. Malcolm searched the face of each cabinet member, looking for some sign of disdain. The Secretary of State shifted his weight in his chair. Malcolm looked eyes on him immediately. “Excuse me?” Malcolm murmured, his eyes still fixed on the Secretary of State.

“I said,”Secretary Lewis continued. “This is ludicrous. What we are about to do is unprecedented. Invoking the 25th Amendment? And for what?”

“Because the Capitol was breached, and King let it happen,” Malcolm fired back.

“I was in that building. My family was in that building. People died in that building. I could’ve died. My family could’ve died.”

“So is that what this is about?” Secretary Lewis fired back. “Is this about your vendetta against King? Was this your plan all along?”

“Who is your allegiance to, John?” Malcolm asked, calling the Secretary by his first name. Malcolm, usually one for pleasantries, was in no mood for that today.

"Are you loyal to your country, or are you loyal to your King?”

“I am loyal to God!” Secretary Lewis blurted out, his passion evident in the tears welling up in his eyes.

“Well,” Malcolm continued, “Your God does not have a vote on the matter.”

Malcolm then took his folder - marked CLASSIFIED - and through it in the middle of the table- photographs and documents of last week’s Capitol raid splattering all around. Members of the Cabinet stared at Malcolm - some in disgust, others in awe. Cabinet meetings with him had seen their fair share of rambunctiousness, but this had taken the cake. They were asked to make an impossible decision - invoke the 25th Amendment to remove a sitting President.

Malcolm slammed another folder in the middle of the table. “This is Hoover’s warning of a second attack on the Supreme Court, White House, and The Smithsonian.”He slammed another folder on the table.“This briefing specifically outlines the current threats being carried out right now in all 50 state capitols. “ Malcolm slammed another folder on the desk. This folder here details every threat facing the very people in this room.” He looked around the room - locking eyes with each member of the cabinet. Everyone accounted for except the President himself.

“Those crackers have made it clear as day that they don’t understand anything but guns and tanks!” Malcolm, now fired up, threw another folder into the pile. “It just so happens that we got a few guns and tanks on this side. How many more people have to die?? How many more threats do you need? How many more pardons does this President have to give to white supremacists under the guise of “doing God’s s work?” How many more churches have to blow up? How many times do you have to fear for your life? If you think this current path of nonviolence is going to get those Dixie Boys to straighten up and fly right, then you outta your mind.”

Malcolm stood up from his seat. “King brought me on to be his pitbull,”He added, holding the letter of invocation in one hand and a pen in the other. “Now,"Malcolm said as he turned to the Secretary of State, handing him the pen. "Let me out the damn yard.”