People across the United States appear angry with the riots and looting that took over the protests of the death of George Floyd while in the custody of the Minneapolis police, and they want law enforcement funded and order restored, according to a new survey.
Despite liberal demands to “defund the police” and the cheering by some of Seattle’s police-free and chaotic “Autonomous Zone,” the latest poll from McLaughlin & Associates for Secure America Now showed strong support for get-tough policies championed by President Trump.
For example, 77% of likely voters in the survey said it is time to “restore law and order” after the rioting, which has cooled off. And it was not just on the back of Republican support. The pollsters found that restoring law and order was supported by 62% of Democrats, 70% of Hispanics, and 57% of black people.
That may have helped to boost support to continue funding the police. Asked if defunding was a good or a bad idea, 30% said it was good, while 57% said it was bad. Only black people disagreed, with 46% calling it a good idea and 34% calling it a bad idea.
Also helping was a larger concern that defunding would lead to greater crime. On that question, 68% agreed, including 47% of African Americans. Some 41% of blacks disagreed.
And those questions were also affected by how people viewed the looting and who was targeted. The biggest majority in the survey, 83%, said that “small minority businesses were unfair victims of the looting and rioting that took place during the protests over George Floyd’s death.” That included 79% of blacks.
“When put in the context of the violent protests, looting, and rioting, the majority of voters unequivocally believe in law and order,” read the analysis of the survey of 1,000 likely general election voters, who were 36% Democratic, 33% Republican, and 31% independent.
“Candidates for political office should continue to support funding their local police departments as the best way to keep crime from rising,” added the analysis from pollster John McLaughlin.
