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CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL

For release: Thursday, August 21, 2014
6:30 PM EDT

Unrest in Ferguson, the Police and Race Relations
August 19-20, 2014

59% of Americans think the protesters actions in Ferguson, Missouri have gone too far;
just 32% say the same about the police there. More African-Americans (50%) than
whites (27%) think the police have gone too far.

Two in three Americans dont know whether the shooting of Michael Brown was justified.
But among blacks, 57% think it was not.

While 56% of Americans have at least some confidence that a local investigation into the
shooting will be conducted fairly, that drops to just 35% among African Americans.

In general, seven in 10 blacks think the police are more apt to use deadly force against a
black person than someone who is white. More than 4 in ten African-Americans say they
have experienced discrimination by police.

Americans have become more pessimistic about race relations in the U.S. Just 47% now
say they are good, down from 55% in May, and 44% think they are bad (up from 33%).

The Shooting in Ferguson and its Aftermath

The shooting of Michael Brown an unarmed 18-year-old African-American man who was shot
to death by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri has unleashed a wave of protests in
Ferguson that have turned violent at times, as well as a forceful response by local police. 59%
of Americans including 67% of whites but just 43% of blacks think the protesters actions
have gone too far.

Did the Protesters in Ferguson Go Too Far?
Total Whites Blacks
Gone too far 59% 67% 43%
Not far enough 7 4 11
About right 20 15 38

Fewer Americans are critical of the police response in Ferguson: 32% think the Ferguson police
went too far in their response to the protests. But there are stark racial divisions on this
measure. Half of blacks think the police went too far, while just 27% of whites agree. Instead,
more whites (36%) think the police response was about right.

Did the Police Response to the Protests Go Too Far?
Total Whites Blacks
Gone too far 32% 27% 50%
Not far enough 15 16 14
About right 33 36 26
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Overall, nearly two in three Americans dont know enough to say whether the incident that
sparked the unrest - the shooting of Michael Brown - was warranted. Whites and blacks differ
on this question as well: 57% of African-Americans think it was not justified, while more than
two-thirds of whites (68%) feel they dont know enough to say.

Was the Shooting of Michael Brown Justified?
Total Whites Blacks
Yes 9% 12% 2%
No 25 18 57
Dont know enough 64 68 39

Just over half of Americans have a lot or some confidence that the investigation into the
shooting by local authorities will be conducted fairly. Again, there are racial differences: 62% of
whites have at least some confidence in a fair investigation, compared to just 35% of blacks.
59% of African Americans have not much or no confidence it will be fair.

Confidence Local Investigation Will be Conducted Fairly
Total Whites Blacks
A lot 27% 31% 11%
Some 29 31 24
Not much/none 34 28 59

Early Monday, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced he was bringing in the National Guard
to assist local and state law enforcement officers. Views are mixed on the impact the National
Guard is having in Ferguson. 26% of Americans think the National Guard is making the situation
better, while 20% think it is making it worse. 35% think the National Guard is not having much
of an effect.

The National Guard is Making the Situation in Ferguson
Total Whites Blacks
Better 26% 29% 20%
Worse 20 17 38
Not much effect 35 35 34

Americans are following events in Ferguson: 54% say they have heard or read a lot about what
is going on there, and another 27% have heard or read some.

Police and Race

African-Americans and whites differ markedly on how race factors into the use of deadly force
by the police. 71% of African-Americans think the police in most communities are more likely to
use deadly force against a black person than a white person, while a majority of whites 58% -
think race does not have any bearing on the matter.

Police Are Most Likely to Use Deadly Force Against
Total Whites Blacks
A black person 37% 31% 71%
A white person 1 1 0
Race doesnt matter 50 58 20

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42% of Americans view the police more as friends, than enemies, but that figure has dipped
from 50% over a decade ago. And while 49% of whites view the police more as friends, just
23% of African-Americans view them that way.

See Police More as Friends or Enemies?
Total Whites Blacks Total (2/2000)
Friends 42% 49% 23% 50%
Enemies 10 9 13 7
Neither 44 40 61 41

African-Americans are much more likely than whites to say they have been subject to police
discrimination. 45% of blacks and 58% of black men - say they have personally been
discriminated against by the police because of their race, compared to just 7% of whites.

Have You Ever Been Discriminated Against by the Police Because of Race?
Total Whites Blacks
Yes 16% 7% 45%
No 83 93 55

In general, 46% of Americans think the racial makeup of a communitys police department
should be similar to the racial makeup of that community as a whole, while 50% dont think that
is necessary. Most blacks 56% - think this should be the case.

Should the Racial Make-Up of a Police Force
be Similar to the Community it Serves?
Total Whites Blacks
Yes 46% 46% 56%
No 50 50 41

The Ferguson police have responded to the protests in military-style vehicles and gear. In
general, many Americans disapprove of local police forces having military weapons and
vehicles such as assault weapons and tanks. 68% think this type of equipment should be
reserved only for the military and the National Guard, while 26% think local police forces should
have it.

Most whites (65%), and even more blacks (80%), do not think local police forces should have
military weapons and equipment. Majorities of Republicans, Democrats, and independents
agree, though Republicans (40%) are far more accepting of local police forces having military
weapons and equipment than Democrats (14%) or independents (26%).

Should Local Police Forces Have Military Weapons and Vehicles?
Total Reps Dems Inds
Yes 26% 40% 14% 26%
No 68 53 80 68

Race Relations in the U.S.

As the conflict in Ferguson attracts national attention, overall perceptions of race relations in the
U.S. have become more negative. Now, just 47% say race relations are good, down from 55%


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as recently as May. The drop has come mostly from whites, who were more optimistic than
blacks in May, but are no longer.

Race Relations in the U.S.
All Americans Whites Blacks
Now 5/2014 Now 5/2014 Now 5/2014
Generally good 47% 55% 49% 60% 44% 46%
Generally bad 44 33 41 27 48 46

On a more positive note, Americans - both black and white - rate race relations in their own
neighborhood much more positively than they rate it in the country as a whole. 78% say race
relations in their community are good, including 82% of whites and 73% of blacks.

Race Relations in Your Community
Total Whites Blacks
Generally good 78% 82% 73%
Generally bad 18 15 23

Most Americans do not trace a change in race relations in the U.S. to President Obamas tenure
in office, though more whites (40%) than blacks (21%) think race relations have gotten worse
since Barack Obama has been President.

President Obamas Impact on Race Relations
Total Whites Blacks
Gotten better 10% 8% 17%
Gotten worse 35 40 21
Stayed same 52 50 59

Political Leaders Response

Americans are divided as to whether or not they are satisfied with the way Missouri Governor
Jay Nixon is handling the situation in Ferguson, though nearly half of African-Americans say
they are not satisfied (49%). In contrast, most blacks 60% - express satisfaction with how
President Barack Obama is handling the situation, while whites are divided.

Response of Leaders to the Situation in Ferguson
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon President Barack Obama
Total Whites Blacks Total Whites Blacks
Satisfied 32% 34% 24% 41% 35% 60%
Dissatisfied 34 33 49 34 39 20
Dont know 34 33 27 25 25 21

Discussing Race

There is a perception that race is difficult for Americans to discuss across racial lines. Most
Americans both black and white say they themselves are comfortable having a conversation
about race with someone of another race. But when asked about the comfort level of
Americans generally, far fewer think most people are comfortable talking with someone of
another race about race.


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Comfort Having a Conversation About Race
with Someone of Another Race
-------Among Whites -------- ------- Among Blacks --------
Yourself Most people Yourself Most people
Comfortable 79% 41% 81% 47%
Not comfortable 17 51 16 50



______________________________________________________________________
This poll was conducted by telephone August 19-20, 2014 among 1,025 adults nationwide. Data
collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News and the New York Times by SSRS of Media, PA.
Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard land-line and cell phones.

Additional interviews were conducted with African Americans, who had previously completed a survey as
part of a random sample, to yield a sample size of 294 African Americans. 599 whites were interviewed.

The combined African American and non-African American samples were weighted separately to match
their groups population characteristics such as gender, age, education, region, marital status and phone
use based on recent U.S. Census estimates. The samples were then combined and weighted to the total
U.S. adult population.

The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus four percentage
points. The error for subgroups may be higher. The margin of error for the sample of whites is 5 pts and 8
pts for African Americans. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. This poll release conforms
to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.


























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CBS News/New York Times Poll
Unrest in Ferguson, the Police and Race Relations
August 19-20, 2014

Q1. Do you think race relations in the United States are generally good or generally bad?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black Apr14c
% % % %
Good 47 49 44 55
Bad 44 41 48 33
Dont know/No answer 10 10 9 12

Q2.Do you think race relations in your community are generally good or generally bad?
Mar14d
Good 78 82 73 78
Bad 18 15 23 18
Dont know/No answer 4 3 4 3

Q3. Since Barack Obama has been President, do you think race relations in the United States have
gotten better, gotten worse, or stayed about the same?
Mar11a
Gotten better 10 8 17 12
Gotten Worse 35 40 21 26
Stayed about the same 52 50 59 60
Dont know/No answer 3 3 3 2

Q4. How comfortable do you think most people feel when they have conversations about race with
someone of another race -- very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or very
uncomfortable?
Jun00b^
Very comfortable 8 7 10 8
Somewhat comfortable 36 34 37 30
Somewhat uncomfortable 36 39 37 44
Very uncomfortable 13 12 13 11
Dont know/No Answer 7 9 4 7
^NY Times only

Q5. What about you? How comfortable do you personally feel when you have a conversation about race
with someone of another race -- very comfortable, somewhat comfortable, somewhat uncomfortable or
very uncomfortable?

Very comfortable 49 46 56 47
Somewhat comfortable 31 33 25 33
Somewhat uncomfortable 13 13 12 14
Very uncomfortable 5 4 4 4
Dont know/No Answer 3 3 3 3
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Q7. About how many of the people you regularly come in contact with are black none, a few, about
half, or almost all?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
% % %
None 7 9 *
A few 57 66 10
About Half 24 21 43
Almost All 11 3 46
Dont know/No Answer 1 1 1

Q7a. Do you generally think of the police more as friends, more as enemies, or dont you think of them
in either of these ways?
Feb00a
%
Friends 42 49 23 50
Enemies 10 9 13 7
Neither 44 40 61 41
Dont know/No answer 3 2 3 2

Q8. Was there ever a specific instance when you felt discriminated against by the police because of your
race or ethnic background?
Jul09b
Yes 16 7 45 18
No 83 93 55 82
Dont know/No Answer 1 1 * 0

Q9. Do you think the racial makeup of a communitys police department should be similar to the racial
makeup of that community as a whole, or don't you think that's necessary?

Yes, communitys police department
should be similar in racial makeup 46 46 56
No, thats not necessary 50 50 41
Dont know/No Answer 4 4 3

Q10. In general, do you think the police in most communities are more likely to use deadly force against
a black person, or more likely to use it against a white person, or dont you think race affects police use
of deadly force?

Police more likely to use deadly
force against a black person 37 31 71
Police more likely to use deadly
force against a white person 1 1 -
Race DOES NOT affect police use
of deadly force 50 58 20
Dont know/No Answer 11 10 9

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Q11. In general, do you think local police forces should have military weapons and vehicles such as
assault rifles and tanks or should these kinds of weapons be reserved only for the military and national
guard?
TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
% % %
Police forces should have military
weapons and vehicles 26 29 15
These weapons should be reserved
only for military and national guard 68 65 80
Dont know/No Answer 6 6 6

Q12.How much have you heard or read about the police shooting of Michael Brown and the subsequent
unrest in Ferguson, Missouri a lot, some or not much?

A lot 54 53 65
Some 27 28 19
Not much 17 18 15
Nothing at all 2 1 *
Dont know/No Answer * * *

Q13.From what you know, do you think the shooting of Michael Brown by police in Ferguson was
justified, or not justified, or dont you know enough to say?

Justified 9 12 2
Not justified 25 18 57
Dont know enough to say 64 68 39
Dont know/No Answer 2 2 2

Q14. From what you know, in the aftermath of the shooting in Ferguson, do you think the protesters
actions have mostly (gone too far), (not gone far enough), or been about right?

Gone too far 59 67 43
Not gone far enough 7 4 11
Been about right 20 15 38
Dont know/No Answer 14 14 8

Q15.From what you know, in the aftermath of the shooting in Ferguson, do you think the police
response to the protests has mostly (gone too far), (not gone far enough), or been about right?

Gone too far 32 27 50
Not gone far enough 15 16 14
Been about right 33 36 26
Dont know/No Answer 20 21 10


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Q15a. Do you think stationing National Guard troops in Ferguson, Missouri is making the situation in
Ferguson (better), making it (worse), or not having much effect?

TOTAL RESPONDENTS
Total White Black
% % %
Better 26 29 20
Worse 20 17 38
Not having much effect 35 35 34
Dont know/No Answer 19 20 8

Q16. How much confidence do you have that the investigation by local authorities into the shooting of
Michael Brown will be conducted fairly a lot, some, not much or none at all?

A lot 27 31 11
Some 29 31 24
Not much 23 21 32
None at all 11 7 27
Dont know/No Answer 11 10 6

Q17. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Barack Obama has responded to the situation in
Ferguson?

Satisfied 41 35 60
Dissatisfied 34 39 20
Dont know/No Answer 25 25 21

Q18. Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has responded to the
situation in Ferguson?

Satisfied 32 34 24
Dissatisfied 34 33 49
Dont know/No Answer 34 33 27



Unweighted Weighted Margin of error
Total Respondents 1025 4pts

Whites 599 706 5pts
Blacks 294 122 8pts