68% Say Discrimination Against Black Americans A "Serious Problem," Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Slight Majority Support Removing Confederate Statues
Share
With the United States at a moment of racial reckoning, voters say 68 - 27 percent that discrimination against black people in the United States is a serious problem, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University national poll released today. There are wide gaps by party, as 96 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of independents say discrimination against black people is a serious problem, while only 34 percent of Republicans say that. Broken down by race, 95 percent of black voters, 76 percent of Hispanic voters, and 62 percent of white voters say discrimination against black people is a serious problem.
Numbers are similar when it comes to the protests held around the country responding to George Floyd's death at the hands of police. Voters support the protests 67 - 28 percent.
"Two sharply contrasting views of America jump off the pages of this survey. To Democrats and independents, the African American population is under siege. From Republicans, a far different view of what is unfolding on our streets," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.
More than half of voters, 57 percent, have a favorable opinion of the Black Lives Matter movement, while 30 percent have an unfavorable one.
Voters think 55 - 38 percent that protests around the country calling to end racial inequality will lead to meaningful reforms.
CONFEDERATE SYMBOLS
Voters support 52 - 44 percent removing Confederate statues from public spaces around the country. That is a 19-point swing in the gap of support since an August 23, 2017 poll when 39 percent supported the removal of Confederate statues and 50 percent opposed.
"Historic figures in granite and iron that seemed protected just a few years ago now face the wrecking ball of public opinion," added Malloy.
As for renaming military bases that were named after Confederate generals, voters are split 47 - 47 percent.
VIEWS OF POLICE
When it comes to views of police in the United States, slightly more voters, 49 - 44 percent, approve of the way the police are doing their job than disapprove. That is a substantial shift in opinion from April of 2018, when 65 percent of voters approved of the way police in the U.S. were doing their jobs and 26 percent disapproved.
However, voters give higher marks to police in their own communities. 77 percent approve of the way police in their community are doing their jobs while 19 percent disapprove. That's compared to 84 percent approval and 12 percent disapproval in October of 2016.
When asked whether being the victim of police brutality is something you personally worry about, 25 percent of voters say "yes," while 74 percent say "no." There is a stark difference by race, as 74 percent of black voters and 32 percent of Hispanic voters personally worry about being the victim of police brutality, compared to only 13 percent of white voters.
POLICE REFORMS
Voters support 66 - 27 percent banning the use of chokeholds by police departments in the United States. That includes 75 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of independents and 57 percent of Republicans.
When voters were asked whether they support or oppose cutting some funding from police departments in their community and shifting it to social services, 54 percent of voters oppose while 41 percent support the idea. Democrats support the idea 70 - 24 percent, Republicans oppose it 86 - 10 percent, and independents oppose it 56 - 40 percent.
Roughly 8 in 10 voters, 81 - 14 percent, say they oppose eliminating the current police department in their community and replacing it with a new one.
PROTECTING JOURNALISTS
Voters say 48 - 42 percent that journalists are not being protected enough in the United States. Democrats say 80 - 15 percent that journalists are not protected enough, while Republicans say 70 - 16 percent that journalists are protected enough.
"'Protect the messengers,' say American voters, as the keepers of the Fourth Estate are maligned and battered," added Malloy.
1,332 self-identified registered voters nationwide were surveyed from June 11 - 15 with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
-
Question 34. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in - the United States are doing their job?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 49% 83% 18% 52% 54% 44% 48% 64% Disapprove 44 12 73 41 40 47 44 28 DK/NA 7 5 9 7 6 9 8 9 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 29% 52% 58% 54% 62% 53% 57% 20% 38% Disapprove 68 42 35 36 32 37 34 76 58 DK/NA 4 6 6 10 6 11 8 4 4 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Approve 47% 52% 51% 44% 43% 44% 66% Disapprove 45 39 43 48 48 49 30 DK/NA 8 9 6 8 9 7 3Trend TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in the United States are doing their job?
App Dis DK/NA Jun 17, 2020 49 44 7 Apr 11, 2018 65 26 8 Oct 11, 2016 63 27 10 -
Question 35. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in - your community are doing their job?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Approve 77% 95% 61% 78% 82% 72% 80% 85% Disapprove 19 3 34 18 16 22 16 13 DK/NA 4 1 6 4 2 6 4 2 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Approve 62% 74% 84% 85% 86% 79% 83% 52% 70% Disapprove 32 23 14 12 12 16 14 42 24 DK/NA 6 3 2 2 2 4 3 6 6 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Approve 77% 81% 76% 74% 70% 78% 86% Disapprove 19 18 20 20 25 18 12 DK/NA 3 1 4 7 5 4 2Trend TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the police in your community are doing their job?
App Dis DK/NA Jun 17, 2020 77 19 4 Oct 11, 2016 84 12 4 -
Question 36. Is being the victim of police brutality something you personally worry about, or not?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 25% 11% 40% 23% 24% 26% 10% 14% No 74 88 60 77 75 73 89 85 DK/NA - 1 1 - - 1 - 1 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 31% 27% 22% 20% 13% 13% 13% 74% 32% No 69 73 77 78 86 86 86 25 68 DK/NA - - 1 1 - 1 1 1 - REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 23% 21% 28% 26% 33% 23% 16% No 77 78 72 73 67 76 84 DK/NA - 1 - 1 - 1 -Trend TREND: Is being the victim of police brutality something you personally worry about or not?
Yes No DK/NA Jun 17, 2020 25 74 - Apr 11, 2018 21 78 1 Oct 11, 2016 20 79 1 -
Question 37. Do you support or oppose banning the use of chokeholds by police departments in the United States?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 66% 57% 75% 67% 63% 68% 79% 56% Oppose 27 32 23 26 29 26 17 32 DK/NA 7 11 2 7 9 6 3 11 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 65% 64% 67% 67% 64% 66% 65% 79% 65% Oppose 29 26 27 28 27 26 26 19 32 DK/NA 6 9 5 5 9 7 8 3 3 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Support 72% 68% 60% 67% 68% 71% 56% Oppose 23 25 31 27 27 23 34 DK/NA 4 7 9 6 5 5 10 -
Question 38. Would you support or oppose cutting some funding from police departments in your community and shifting it to social services?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 41% 10% 70% 40% 36% 46% 52% 28% Oppose 54 86 24 56 61 48 45 66 DK/NA 5 4 6 4 3 6 3 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 58% 39% 36% 36% 34% 40% 37% 62% 42% Oppose 41 58 57 57 63 53 58 31 55 DK/NA 2 3 6 7 4 7 5 7 3 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Support 45% 39% 40% 41% 44% 46% 28% Oppose 51 56 55 52 51 48 68 DK/NA 4 5 5 7 5 5 4 -
Question 39. Would you support or oppose eliminating the current police department in your community and replacing it with a new one?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 14% 5% 24% 11% 12% 15% 12% 10% Oppose 81 93 68 86 85 78 84 86 DK/NA 5 2 8 3 3 6 3 4 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 26% 14% 9% 10% 10% 11% 11% 32% 16% Oppose 69 82 87 86 88 83 86 61 78 DK/NA 6 4 4 4 2 5 4 7 7 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Support 14% 12% 16% 12% 19% 11% 9% Oppose 80 85 80 81 75 83 88 DK/NA 6 3 4 7 5 6 3 -
Question 40. Do you support or oppose the protests held around the country responding to the death of George Floyd at the hands of police?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 67% 35% 92% 68% 67% 66% 76% 51% Oppose 28 56 6 28 27 28 20 41 DK/NA 5 9 2 4 5 6 4 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 81% 69% 64% 58% 64% 59% 61% 91% 70% Oppose 16 26 32 35 31 36 33 9 23 DK/NA 3 6 4 7 6 6 6 - 7 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Support 72% 68% 62% 69% 70% 72% 53% Oppose 27 27 33 22 26 23 38 DK/NA 1 5 5 9 4 5 8 -
Question 41. Do you think that discrimination against black people in the United States today is a serious problem, or don't you think so?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 68% 34% 96% 69% 61% 74% 76% 52% No 27 60 4 26 35 21 20 42 DK/NA 5 6 - 5 4 5 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 80% 67% 63% 65% 56% 67% 62% 95% 76% No 15 29 33 32 41 26 33 5 21 DK/NA 5 4 4 4 3 7 5 - 3 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 73% 67% 63% 73% 72% 73% 54% No 25 26 33 21 22 25 39 DK/NA 2 7 4 6 6 2 7 -
Question 42. Do you think the protests around the country calling to end racial inequality in the United States will lead to meaningful reforms, or don't you think so?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 55% 34% 76% 53% 50% 59% 62% 45% No 38 59 18 41 44 33 32 48 DK/NA 7 7 6 6 6 8 6 7 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 62% 55% 52% 52% 48% 55% 51% 67% 60% No 33 39 43 38 46 38 42 24 34 DK/NA 6 6 6 10 6 7 7 9 6 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 53% 55% 52% 61% 61% 54% 48% No 38 38 40 34 31 39 46 DK/NA 9 8 8 5 8 7 6 -
Question 43. Do you support or oppose removing Confederate statues from public spaces around the country?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 52% 14% 85% 50% 47% 56% 63% 32% Oppose 44 80 11 46 49 39 34 61 DK/NA 5 6 4 5 4 5 3 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 67% 51% 48% 44% 43% 46% 44% 84% 58% Oppose 30 43 48 51 53 49 51 11 39 DK/NA 3 6 4 5 4 6 5 5 3 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural MltryHshld Support 55% 51% 45% 60% 60% 56% 32% 40% Oppose 37 43 52 36 35 39 64 54 DK/NA 8 6 3 4 5 5 3 6Trend TREND: Do you support or oppose removing Confederate statues from public spaces around the country?
Sup Opp DK/NA Jun 17, 2020 52 44 5 Aug 23, 2017 39 50 10 -
Question 44. Do you support or oppose renaming military bases that were named after Confederate generals?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Support 47% 9% 81% 44% 42% 52% 58% 30% Oppose 47 86 14 49 55 41 38 64 DK/NA 5 5 4 6 3 7 4 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Support 59% 47% 46% 41% 38% 44% 41% 77% 53% Oppose 37 50 48 54 59 49 54 18 41 DK/NA 4 3 6 5 3 7 5 5 6 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural MltryHshld Support 56% 41% 43% 53% 54% 52% 30% 35% Oppose 39 53 53 41 41 41 67 59 DK/NA 5 7 4 6 5 7 3 6 -
Question 45. Is your opinion of the Black Lives Matter movement favorable, unfavorable or haven't you heard enough about it?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Favorable 57% 19% 89% 58% 48% 64% 66% 42% Unfavorable 30 61 3 31 38 22 26 39 Hvn't hrd enough 10 14 7 8 11 9 6 14 REFUSED 4 7 1 4 3 4 2 6 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Favorable 71% 55% 53% 52% 46% 56% 51% 83% 61% Unfavorable 18 32 34 34 39 29 34 10 29 Hvn't hrd enough 7 9 10 12 12 10 11 7 9 REFUSED 4 3 3 2 3 5 4 - 1 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Favorable 64% 58% 52% 57% 63% 61% 42% Unfavorable 25 28 33 29 24 29 40 Hvn't hrd enough 8 9 10 13 11 8 12 REFUSED 3 5 4 2 3 2 6 -
Question 46. Do you think that journalists are being protected enough in the United States, or don't you think so?
WHITE........ 4 YR COLL DEG Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Yes No Yes 42% 70% 15% 47% 51% 34% 44% 54% No 48 16 80 44 40 55 48 34 DK/NA 10 15 5 9 9 11 9 12 AGE IN YRS.............. WHITE..... 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ Men Wom Wht Blk Hsp Yes 32% 46% 49% 44% 59% 41% 50% 19% 28% No 61 46 43 43 33 46 40 75 65 DK/NA 7 8 8 13 8 13 11 6 7 REGION................... DENSITY............ NEast MWest South West City Suburb Rural Yes 38% 45% 43% 43% 35% 42% 55% No 52 44 47 50 55 50 34 DK/NA 10 11 10 8 10 9 11