NEW YORK — Ahead of the Juneteenth holiday weekend’s demonstrations against systemic racism and police brutality, more than 4 in 10 Americans say they expect recent protests around the country will bring positive change. A majority say they approve of the protests.
Bill Ardren, a 75-year-old retired resident of Maple Grove, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, said he supports the protests. He blames protesters and law enforcement equally for why some demonstrations turned into ugly clashes scarred by looting and arson. More think the protests will mostly change the country for the better than bring about negative change, 44% to 21%. A third say they won’t make much difference.
“I’ve been fairly heartened by the ongoing presence in the streets, because the systemic racism that has generated these protests is longstanding and deeply embedded,” said Gilmore-Clough, who's among those who believe the protests will have a positive impact. “My hope is that this persistence leads to results, changes of laws, changes of institutions and changes to our patterns that have normalized white supremacy.
Overall, Americans are somewhat more likely to say the protests have been peaceful than violent, 27% vs. 22%, but 51% think there's been a mix of both. White Americans are more likely than Black Americans to call protests violent, 20% to 7%, though 54% of white Americans say there has been a mix.
What people have been trained to say and project isn't necessarily the truth. Ask people if they think cops abuse their powers, harass people, escalate situations and I guarantee the majority will say YES.
Every officer in localities waging war on law enforcement should turn their badge in until the mayor & prosecutor both resign. Chicago Atlanta Seattle KansasCity Louisville Minneapolis NYC Modesto SanLeandro Philadelphia Portland