A record 51% of likely voters now believe that police treat blacks unfairly, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports survey.
In details shared with Secrets, there is also a record high in those who feel that police discrimination against blacks is worse than inner-city crime.
The record levels of concern are driven more by African Americans than whites, added the survey analysis. It said, “Blacks (70%) are a lot more likely than whites (47%) and other minority voters (53%) to think black Americans receive unfair treatment from the police.”
The poll comes after a week of sometimes violent protests against police and governments, including the White House, after the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody.
The protests have been seen as a culmination of years of protests against police brutality. It has also given rise to a movement to defund and dismantle police departments.
The survey found:
- 51% of likely voters believe blacks receive unfair treatment from the police, while 32% disagree.
- 36% said police discrimination is a bigger problem than crime in low-income inner-city areas, while 53% disagree.
- Those under age 40 are more likely to feel blacks receive unfair treatment.
- 74% of Democrats feel that most black Americans receive unfair treatment from the police, while 28% of Republicans and 49% of voters not affiliated with either major party agree.
Rasmussen added two other notes from recent polling on the issue of the riots:
- Voters are more critical of the police response to the latest outburst of black protest nationwide but also tend to agree with President Trump that the so-called “antifa” movement thought to be behind much of the violence should be labeled as terrorists.
- In a survey two years ago, voters said police do a good job dealing with violent protesters but think the media is more likely to side with the protesters than with the police.
