2024 is the first presidential election since the January 6th insurrection, raising important questions about what will happen in the days and months after election day on November 5th. Will we have a peaceful transfer of power? Will there be legal and/or illegal attempts to change election outcomes? Given the deep and wide role of religion in our public square — and the Insurrection — what role will religious communities play in fomenting anti-democratic movements and mobilizing pro-democracy coalitions? This event will gather an illustrious group of scholars and leaders to help process what happened — and prepare for what’s next.

Sponsored by Americans United For Separation of Church and State and USC Knight Program in Media and Religion.

Panel 1: Andrew L. Seidel (Constitutional Laywer at Americans United of Separation of Church and State and Author of The Founding Myth and American Crusade), Arlene Sanchez Walsh (Author of Pentecostals in America)

Panel 2: ) Rachel Laser (President and CEO at Americans United for Separation of Church and State), Khyati Joshi (Farleigh Dickinson University, Author of White Christian Privilege), and Brad Onishi (Co-host of Straight White American Jesus, Author of Preparing for War),

Moderated by Dan Miller (Landmark College, Host of Straight White American Jesus).

• PARKING in the Cathedral lot and across the street at AAA. Security will be present throughout the evening in the parking lots and at the Cathedral.
• RECEPTION: Ticket holders are also invited to a light reception and book signing prior to the start of the event at 6pm outside the Cathedral.
• AFTER PARTY: All in person attendees will be invited to an after party at a nearby location. Details shared at the event.

More about the Panelists:

Khyati Joshi is full Professor in the School of Education at Fairleigh Dickinson University and aco-founder of the Institute for Teaching Diversity and Social Justice (IDSJ). She is the author of White Christian Privilege – The Illusion of Religious Equality in America.

Rachel Laser is a lawyer and the current President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Brad Onishi is faculty in Religion and Philosophy at the University of San Francisco. He is the author of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism–And What Comes Next, and co-host of the Straight White American Jesus podcast.

Arlene Sanchez Walsh is associate professor of religious studies at Azusa Pacific University and the author of Pentecostals in America.

Andrew L. Seidel is a constitutional attorney and a Senior Correspondent at Religion Dispatches. He is the author of The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American and American Crusade: How the Supreme Court is Weaponizing Religious Freedom.