Approximately 1 in 3 Americans say citizens can be justified in taking “violent action” against the government, poll shows.
According to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll, respondents were asked, “Do you think it is ever justified for citizens to take violent action against the government, or is it never justified?”
Sixty-two percent believe it is “never justified,” and 4% had no opinion. Meanwhile, 34% say it can be justified.
As the Post notes, “People’s reasoning for what they considered acceptable violence against the government varied, from what they considered to be overreaching coronavirus restrictions, to the disenfranchisement of minority voters, to the oppression of Americans.”
The analysis continues, “Responses to an open-ended question on the survey about hypothetical justifications included repeated mentions of ‘autocracy,’ ‘tyranny,’ ‘corruption’ and a loss of freedoms.”
Twenty-three percent of Democrats believe “violent action against the government is sometimes justified” compared to 41% of Independents and 40% of Republicans who say the same.
The poll comes almost a year after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. A CBS News/YouGov showed 68% say the events at the Capitol were “a sign of increasing political violence” while 32% called it an “isolated incident.”
Sixty-six percent of respondents believe democracy today is threatened compared to 33% who say it is secure. When asked what they expect for future presidential elections, 62% expect violence over losing. Thirty-eight percent expect the losing side to concede peacefully.
The poll surveyed 2,063 U.S. adults between December 27 to 30.
A committee to investigate the Capitol attack was formed six months ago, as CNN points out. The committee has uncovered “firsthand” knowledge of the former president’s behavior during the events, text messages between former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Donald Trump Jr., Fox News hosts and lawmakers, testimony from officers who witnessed the attack, and more.
