A new survey shows that 55% of the public disapproves of the protests against the coronavirus lockdown.
The poll, from the University of Chicago Divinity School/Associated Press/NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, surveyed 1,002 adults from April 30-May 4.
Thirty-one percent approve of the protests. In recent days, protesters have taken as their champion Texas hair salon owner Shelley Luther, who was jailed for refusing to apologize to a judge for opening her business in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency orders. She was sentenced to seven days in jail but released after two when Abbott removed jail as a punishment for violations of his orders.
There is a partisan divide among support for the protests, with Democrats disapproving more than Republicans, 67% to 51%.
The poll also found that support for shutdown measures may be softening. Seventy-one percent said people should remain at home except for essential errands. That’s down from 80% two weeks ago. Similarly, 67% now say that restaurants and bars should remain closed, down from 76%.
