The high profile killing of George Floyd and subsequent trial has forced many Americans to examine systemic racism and its role in criminal justice over the last year. A new PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll suggests that more Americans are now recognizing disparities in the lived experience of people of color in the U.S., especially in regard to policing.
In the poll conducted May 4 to 10, 32 percent of U.S. adults said they believe local police treat people of color more harshly, up from 25 percent in September 2015. However, there is still a huge racial discrepancy, with 25 percent of white people saying people of color are treated more harshly, while 61 percent of Black people felt that to be the case.
On April 21, a jury convicted former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of murdering Floyd, nearly a year after Floyd’s killing. Most Americans — 77 percent — agree that Chauvin was guilty of murdering Floyd, including nearly all Democrats and most independents. But 15 percent of Americans disagree with the trial’s verdict. Republicans are split, with 52 percent saying they agree with Chauvin’s conviction. CONTINUED
Laura Santhanam, PBS NewsHour
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