CBS News Poll: Negative View Of US Race Relations Reaches All-Time High Of 69 Percent
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A new CBS News/New York Times poll reveals that a negative view of race relations in the United States has reached an all-time high.
The poll shows 69 percent of Americans view race relations as bad – one point more than the previous high of 68 percent following the 1992 Los Angeles riots and Rodney King verdict. Only 26 percent believe race relations are good.
The nation has been on edge following the fatal police shootings of two black men – Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, and Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana – and five police officers in Dallas getting gunned down last Thursday at the hands of Army veteran Micah Johnson.
Breaking it down among race, 71 percent of whites and 72 percent of blacks said race relations are bad, while 25 percent of whites and 24 percent of blacks said it was good.
Fifty-four percent of Americans were surprised by the Dallas shooting as 55 percent of whites said they were surprised, but 52 percent of blacks said they weren't.
According to the poll, 41 percent of Americans agree with the Black Lives Matter movement, while 25 percent disagree. However, among whites, only 37 percent agreed, 31 percent disagreed, and 28 percent had no opinion on the movement.
When asked about who police are most likely to use deadly force against, 43 percent of Americans said a black person, 1 percent said a white person, and 49 percent said race doesn't matter. Among whites, 36 percent said police would most likely use deadly force against a black person, while 56 percent said race doesn't matter.
Among blacks, 75 percent believe police would most likely use deadly force against a black person, while 18 percent said race doesn't play a part in it.
The poll was conducted among 1,600 adults nationwide between July 8-12.
