Trust in America: Do Americans trust the police?
While views of and experiences with police vary substantially across demographic groups, there is support for a number of police reforms.
While views of and experiences with police vary substantially across demographic groups, there is support for a number of police reforms.
Today, 51% of U.S. adults say they support the Black Lives Matter movement – down from 67% in June 2020. A majority of Americans say the increased focus on race and racial inequality in the past three years hasn’t led to improvement for Black Americans.
Prior to the Tyre Nichols video release, views of police conduct in the U.S. had improved in three of four measures, with crime an exception.
As we mark 10 years since the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag first appeared on social media, here are eight facts about the Black Lives Matter movement.
More than 44 million #BlackLivesMatter tweets from nearly 10 million distinct users currently exist on Twitter today. Over half of all existing tweets that include the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag were posted from May to September 2020.
Today, 51% of U.S. adults say they support the Black Lives Matter movement – down from 67% in June 2020. A majority of Americans say the increased focus on race and racial inequality in the past three years hasn't led to improvement for Black Americans.
Prior to the Tyre Nichols video release, views of police conduct in the U.S. had improved in three of four measures, with crime an exception.
Most Black adults (63%) say voting is an extremely or very effective strategy for Black progress; only 42% say the same of protesting.
Black Americans support significant reforms to or complete overhauls of several U.S. institutions to ensure fair treatment. Yet even as they assess inequality and ideas about progress, many are pessimistic about whether society and institutions will change in ways that would reduce racism.
Black Americans are critical of key aspects of policing and criminal justice. But their views on face recognition technology are more nuanced.
Public views are tied to how these technologies would be used and what constraints would be in place.
Trust in scientists and medical scientists has fallen below pre-pandemic levels, with 29% of U.S. adults saying they have a great deal of confidence in medical scientists to act in the best interests of the public. This is down from 40% in November 2020 and 35% in January 2019, before COVID-19 emerged. Other prominent groups – including the military, police officers and public school principals – have also seen their ratings decline.
While views of and experiences with police vary substantially across demographic groups, there is support for a number of police reforms.