Many American adults feel that the focus on racial issues hasn’t brought about significant change for Black Americans since George Floyd’s death in police custody, according to a recent poll.
Data from Pew Research Center indicates a notable decline in support for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, five years after protests against police violence resonated across the nation. Reported on Wednesday, the findings also suggest that the image of police officers has somewhat improved.
The poll shows that 72% of American adults think that the “racial focus after George Floyd’s murder” has not led to change, an increase from 57% in April 2023 and 46% in September 2020.
Support for BLM among U.S. adults has dropped to 52%, down from 67% in June 2020.
More than half of those surveyed noted that their interactions with Black police officers have remained “almost the same” since 2020, while 33% observed a decline in their perception, and the remainder felt it had improved. Previous studies by Pew indicated a growing positive perception towards police actions regarding use of force issues since 2020.
This study follows President Donald Trump’s administration, which implemented restrictions on publicly funded diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that emerged alongside the BLM movement.
Additionally, the demolition of “Black Lives Matter Plaza” in Washington DC took place in March, a location that had become a symbol for BLM protests, especially after criticism from Congressional Republicans regarding funding for the district.
Conservatives have criticized BLM ideology, linking it to the violent protests that resulted in 24 fatalities and caused extensive property damage estimated between $1 to $2 billion nationwide.
While the movement is believed to have potential societal benefits, leaders from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation have reportedly indicated that they plan to distribute millions in charitable funds to businesses owned by themselves and their families.
The recent study surveyed 5,097 American adults in February, with a margin of error of 1.6%.
