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Adam Russell Taylor writes in this week’s SojoMail that if we want a more just future, people of faith must resist siren songs of violence, conspiracy theory, and anti-democratic methods: Throughout the past four years, many on the political right spread the big lie that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump — never mind that courts repeatedly found no evidence for this claim. They also incited fears, without evidence, of a vast conspiracy underway to steal the 2024 presidential election; Trump himself took to social media on Election Day to spread a baseless claim about cheating in Philadelphia. Yet when the results came in last week showing that Trump was likely to win, the claims of election fraud faded almost immediately. While this double standard is frustrating, I also see a more hopeful opportunity to rebuild shaken trust in our election system and make protecting everyone’s freedom to vote a nonpartisan cause and bipartisan commitment. As a person of faith, I am deeply concerned about what the outcome of this election means, especially for those who will be most vulnerable to threats of mass deportations, retaliation against perceived political enemies, and other actions planned by the incoming administration. Yet we must not follow the example set by the president-elect and his followers: We can and should acknowledge the recent election results as legitimate, even if we are pained by them. I am hopeful that we can use this moment to break the fever of election denialism and rebuild trust in our election system — a shift that will be critical for future elections. Equally critical will be our commitment to advance justice and peace, a commitment that requires us to roundly reject the siren songs of violence, conspiracy theory, and anti-democratic methods. Here is what we know about the integrity of the 2024 election
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