Sixty-three percent of Americans support the Black Lives Matter movement and a record 69% -- the most by far in 32 years of polling -- say Black people and other minorities are denied equal treatment in the criminal justice system, two of several signs of deep changes in public attitudes on racial discrimination.
These views don't necessarily translate into majority preferences on policy -- 55% oppose reducing police funding in favor of more social services, for instance, with 40% in favor. Nonetheless, this ABC News/Washington Post poll finds substantial shifts in how Americans view underlying issues of racial justice. Among them:
Fifty-five percent in this poll, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, say Black people who live in their own community experience racial discrimination, up from a low of 37% in 2012 and the most since the question was first asked 17 years ago. Among whites, 33% in 2012 saw racial discrimination in their own communities; today this has grown to 52%. It's also at 52% among Hispanic people.
The share of Americans overall who say Black people and other minorities do not receive equal treatment in the criminal justice system has jumped 15 percentage points just since 2014, and 31 points from a low in 1997, to the most in a question that dates to 1988. Among whites, it's up from 44% six years ago to 62%, a majority for the first time. Here, again, views among Hispanics more closely resemble those among whites -- 68% perceive unequal treatment in the criminal justice system.
The number of whites who are confident that police are adequately trained to avoid using excessive force has dropped by 12 points since 2014, from 62 to 50%. Again, it's about the same among Hispanics at 51%. Confidence among whites that the police treat white and Black people equally is down eight points, to 55%. It's also down 11 points among Blacks, to just 10%.
Fifty-five percent of Americans overall see the recent killings of unarmed Black people by police as "a sign of broader problems" in police treatment of Blacks, rather than as isolated incidents. That's up from 43% in 2014, after the deaths of Eric Garner in New York City and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Seeing this as a broader problem is up 13 points among whites, to 48%, as well as 12 points among Black people. Among Hispanics, 54% see recent killings as a sign of broader problems.
See PDF for full results, charts and tables.
Along with these changes, the survey also finds increased social contact: Eighty-five percent of whites now say there's a Black person they consider a fairly close personal friend, up from 54% when first asked in 1981. And 89% of Black people say the same about a white person, up from 69% 39 years ago.
In this June 7, 2020, file photo, protesters participating in a Black Lives Matter rally march in Pittsburgh Pittsburgh to protest the death of George Floyd.
On policy matters, as noted, the public overall, by 55-40%, opposes reducing funding for police departments and spending that money on social services instead; substantially more are strongly opposed, 43%, than strongly in favor, 25%. There's a racial and ethnic division on this issue: Fifty-nine percent of Black people support reducing police funding; it's 47% among Hispanics and drops to 34% among white people.
Also, Americans overall side -- by eight or nine points -- against renaming military bases currently named for Confederate generals, 50 to 42%, and against removing statues honoring Confederate generals in public places, 52 to 43%. Results are more lopsided on the question of removing statues honoring U.S. presidents who owned slaves, with 68% opposed.
On another policy question, the public at 63 to 31%, opposes paying money to Black Americans whose ancestors were slaves as compensation for that slavery. That said, support for reparations has grown from 19% in 1997 and opposition is down 14 points, from 77%.
This change has come across groups, if not to the same degree. Support for reparations has risen from 65% of Blacks in 1997 to 82% now; and among whites has risen from 10% in 1997 to 18% now.
There are racial and ethnic gaps on the other policy items as well. Sixty percent of Black people favor renaming military bases, as do 51% of Hispanics, compared with 36% of whites. On Confederate statues, 76% of Black people favor removal; this declines to 38% of whites and 34% of Hispanics. And 60% of Blacks support removing statues of slave-owning presidents, versus 26% of Hispanics and 16% of white people.
There also are large gaps on these issues on the basis of partisanship and ideology. Three-quarters of Democrats, including as many white Democrats, say Black people in their community experience racial discrimination. Fewer, but still 57% of independents, say the same. This drops to 29% of Republicans.
In another example, 80% of Republicans think the police treat Black and white people equally; this drops to 47% among independents and falls to 20% of Democrats, including 25% of white Democrats. There are similar differences in views of whether police are adequately trained to avoid the excessive use of force -- 77% of Republicans say they are, versus 45% of independents and 24% of Democrats.
Protesters chant as they pass down a main thoroughfare during a Black Lives Matter march through a residential neighborhood calling for racial justice, July 13, 2020, in Valley Stream, N.Y.
Ninety-two percent of Democrats, including 91% of white Democrats, support the Black Lives Matter movement, as do a smaller majority of independents at 62% and dropping steeply to 28% of Republicans. By ideology, support ranges from 93% of liberals to 70% of moderates and 34% of conservatives.
Six in 10 Democrats also support reducing police funding in favor of social services, as do 42% of independents, compared with 14% of Republicans. And there are even bigger partisan gaps on renaming military bases and removing Confederate statues.
While there are limited differences between white and Black Democrats on most of these issues, there are wide gaps on two items, reparations and removing statues of slave-owning presidents. Using both Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents for an adequate sample size, 86% of Blacks who are Democrats or lean that way, support reparations; that drops to 35% of white leaned Democrats. And 63% of Black leaned Democrats support removing statues of presidents who owned slaves, versus 31% of white leaned Democrats.
About one in four Democrats is Black, compared with one in 10 independents and fewer than one in 100 Republicans.
Differences among some other groups also emerge. Sixty-two percent of women see police killings of unarmed Black people as a sign of broader problems rather than isolated incidents; 48% of men agree. And there are differences by education in terms of renaming military bases and removing Confederate statues. These are supported by six in 10 Americans with post-graduate educations, compared with roughly a third of those who haven't gone beyond high school.
This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cellular telephone July 12-15, 2020, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,006 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.5 points, including the design effect. Partisan divisions are 30-24-39%, Democrats-Republicans-independents.
The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York, New York, with sampling and data collection by Abt Associates of Rockville, Maryland See details on the survey's methodology here.
See the original post:
63% support Black Lives Matter as recognition of discrimination jumps: POLL - ABC News
- What Does "Black Lives Matter" Actually Mean? Why Saying ... [Last Updated On: July 6th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 6th, 2020]
- Two people were hurt by a car as a Black Lives Matter demonstration was ending in Indiana - CNN [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter movement finds new urgency and allies because of COVID-19 - The Conversation CA [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2020]
- Workplace tensions flare over whether employees can wear Black Lives Matter masks - The Detroit News [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2020]
- We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter movement: CSA - Deccan Herald [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2020]
- Driver charged in fatal hit-and-run at Seattle Black Lives Matter protest - ABC News [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2020]
- NYC Begins Painting Black Lives Matter Mural In Front Of Trump Tower | 90.1 FM WABE - WABE 90.1 FM [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter Murals Are Being Defaced In Cities Throughout The Country - Forbes [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2020]
- Demonstrators gather in Berea to march in solidarity for Black Lives Matter movement - LEX18 Lexington KY News [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2020]
- Olympic gymnast Simone Biles says Black Lives Matter protests are the start of change: Its sad it took all of this for people to listen - The... [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2020]
- Lockdown-focused Facebook groups pivot to attacks on Black Lives Matter - CNBC [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Boise Police Identify Suspects in Batteries Committed During July 2 Black Lives Matter/Defund the Police Protest - Idaho Press-Tribune [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- LeBron James will not wear Black Lives Matter message on back of jersey, will instead wear traditional James - MassLive.com [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- It seems black lives don't matter quite so much, now that we've got to the hard bit - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- New York AG says Black Lives Matter Foundation 'not affiliated with the movement' and orders it to stop collecting donations - CNN [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2020]
- Plan underway for Black Lives Matter mural to be painted on Worcester streets; Mural will be in the Major Tay - MassLive.com [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- We need leaders to affirm that Black Lives Matter, not exploit the phrase to divide us - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2020]
- Stormzy on Black Lives Matter: 'If we weren't oppressed, we wouldn't be shouting' - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- COVID And Black Lives Matter Have Spurred Real Change; Why Can't Climate Change Do The Same? - New Hampshire Public Radio [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- Protesters rally in Winston-Salem to demand charges be dropped against demonstrators arrested - WXII12 Winston-Salem [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Only certain black lives matter - Carolinacoastonline [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter march will wind through Jeannette - TribLIVE [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- SLIDESHOW: Back The Blue, Black Lives Matter protests take place in West Peabody - The Salem News [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter Sign Defaced With Paint in Albany - NBC Bay Area [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- The diversity of the recent Black Lives Matter protests is a good sign for racial equity - Brookings Institution [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- What is the 'Black Lives Matter' organization? - Newnan Times-Herald [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- From the George Floyd moment to a Black Lives Matter movement, in tweets - Brookings Institution [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- How we can turn the momentum of Black Lives Matter into real change - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: July 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 15th, 2020]
- Check Out This Amazing Music Video Shot on the Black Lives Matter Mural - Washingtonian [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Federal agency: Supporting 'Black Lives Matter' isn't partisan or political - USA TODAY [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter vigil held on Kenilworth Parkway: "We have to be a voice for change" - The Advocate [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Posts mentioning 'Black lives matter' spiked on lawmakers' social media accounts after George Floyd killing - Pew Research Center [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Artists paint Black Lives Matter murals on boarded-up windows in Fort Wayne - Business Insider - Business Insider [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Teenagers lead the way in Black Lives Matter movement - Press Herald [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter rally held in Saginaw after couple says they were targeted twice by hate crime - WNEM Saginaw [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Fugitive the Source of Debate Over Black Lives Matter Mural in Palo Alto - NBC Bay Area [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Edward Colston's statue stood for 125 years. The Black Lives Matter statue that replaced it stood for about 25 hours - CNN [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Removing the statue of Black Lives Matter activist Jen Reid was a mistake - The Guardian [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter events continue in Portland amid tensions with feds - KOIN.com [Last Updated On: July 19th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 19th, 2020]
- Unspeakable video highlights the role of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Black Lives Matter - The Verge [Last Updated On: July 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 20th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter: A primer on what it is and what it stands for [Last Updated On: July 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 20th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter -- Manifesto in Ten Points | National Review [Last Updated On: July 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 20th, 2020]
- For Friends Of The Children, Black Lives Matter Is More Than A Moment - Forbes [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- How The Black Lives Matter Generation Remembers John Lewis - Voice of America [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- That fake story connecting dead bodies and Black Lives Matter is back - PolitiFact [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Keke Palmer condemns rumors that her show was canceled because of Black Lives Matter activism - NBC News [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- How Graffiti Artists Are Propelling the Vision of the Black Lives Matter Movement - Artsy [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter mural placed on top of building in 5 Points neighborhood - WRAL.com [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Introducing the new Black Lives Matter digital platform that will help you become a better ally - harpersbazaar.com [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- What Black Lives Matter Has Revealed About Small-Town America - The New York Times [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter stirs hope for change in England's ancient city of York - NBC News [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- 12 White Female Bodies in Garage Freezer Tagged "Black ... [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- The lies told by the Black Lives Matter movement [Last Updated On: July 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter mural in Redwood City washed away after suggestion to paint MAGA 2020 - KRON4 [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- The Black Lives Matter Street Art That Contain Multitudes - The New York Times [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- How the Black Lives Matter generation remembers John Lewis - The Associated Press [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter mural to be removed in Springfield due to lack of permits - WWLP.com [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- 21-year-old who wrote Black Lives Matter over blue line: I did it because I love this country' - SILive.com [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- 5 pitfalls Black Lives Matter must avoid to maintain momentum and achieve meaningful change - Waging Nonviolence [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter Protest Held on Saturday in Fort Bragg to Honor the Two Months Since George Floyd's Murder - Redheaded Blackbelt [Last Updated On: July 22nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 22nd, 2020]
- Corporate ads said Black Lives Matter. But the industry creating them is nearly all white. - NBC News [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Cubs To Hold Moment Of Silence For Black Lives Matter | 670 The Score - 670 The Score [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter posters placed on top of building in 5 Points neighborhood - WRAL.com [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter in the Food System - Civil Eats [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- After being told to remove her "Black Lives Matter" face mask, Whole Foods employee quits in protest. - Berkeleyside [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Letter to the Editor: Black Lives Matter? - Pine and Lakes Echo Journal [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter Activist: Abolishing The Police '100%' Means Just That - Here And Now [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- Why the Black Lives Matter movement doesn't want a singular leader - POLITICO [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- 5 Things You Need To Know About Black Lives Matter | The ... [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2020]
- DeKalb Black Lives Matter to host die-in demonstration on Thursday in Memorial Park - DeKalb Daily Chronicle [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Don't Exploit 'Black Lives Matter' - UT News - UT News | The University of Texas at Austin [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Cleveland Indians show support for Black Lives Matter during moment of silence, stand together during national anthem - WKYC.com [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Roseville Man Accused Of Leaving Threatening Notes At Homes With Black Lives Matter Signs, Inclusive Messages - CBS Minnesota [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- We Need to Say to Them You Matter': Black Lives Matter Rally Held in Bloomfield - NBC Connecticut [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- New Black Lives Matter Muskegon group aims to keep the fire going - mlive.com [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Phillies start season with Black Lives Matter painted on the mound - The Philadelphia Inquirer [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Black Lives Matter: Most Controversial Quotes And Statements [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2020]
- Orioles Kneel During Pregame Tribute To Black Lives Matter Movement; Stand With Arms Locked For National Anthem - CBS Baltimore [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2020]
- Meet the organisers of Worthing Black Lives Matter - Worthing Herald [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]
- National Day of Action for Black Lives Matter movement held in Northampton - WWLP.com [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2020]