Recent Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality are believed to be the largest movement in the United States’ history. Most college students know someone who has marched, and an overwhelming majority support the current movement.
A recent survey of 1,500 undergraduates finds that almost 8 in 10 (78%) support the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. There are stark differences between Democrats and Republicans, however. While more than 9 in 10 (96%) Democratic students support the movement, about 3 in 10 (34%) Republican students agree.
About half (54%) of students overall think the protests will lead to meaningful change in America. By comparison, about one-quarter (26%) don’t expect to see meaningful change, and 20% are not sure. Underclassmen are more optimistic, though. Almost two-thirds (65%) of freshmen believe the protests will lead to meaningful change, compared to about half (53%) of seniors.
Freshmen are More Optimistic About the Protests Leading to Meaningful Change
Do you think the protests will lead to meaningful change in America?
While 1 in 5 (21%) students have participated in a Black Lives Matter protest this year, a majority (75%) of students know someone who has. Participation also varies across lines of political leaning and year. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to have participated in a protest (32% vs. 3%). And freshmen are more likely than seniors to say they have joined a protest (28% vs. 18%).
A strong majority (94%) of students say marches are a legitimate form of protest against police brutality, but fewer students say the same about other forms of protest. Almost 6 in 10 (58%) students say civil disobedience, such as violating curfew, is a legitimate form of protest against police brutality, while about 2 in 10 say the same about rioting (21%) and damaging property (17%). Just 12% of students say looting is a legitimate form of protest. But Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say looting is legitimate (19% vs. 1%).
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Methodology: This survey was designed and conducted by College Pulse. Interviews were conducted among a sample of 1,500 full-time and part-time students attending four-year colleges or universities in the U.S. who are part of College Pulse’s American College Student Panel.
