News

American Attitudes toward Extremist Threats: A Survey Following the Events at the U.S. Capitol

 

Following the seditious riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Americans are highly concerned about violent extremism, according to a survey taken after the events released today by ADL that evaluated perceptions of the threats facing the country.

Key takeaways:

  • Approximately two-thirds of these Americans believe Donald Trump (67%) and members of white supremacist, far-right or militia groups (such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers) are each at least somewhat responsible for the violence at the Capitol.
  • Roughly three-quarters of Americans are at least somewhat concerned about violence in the next year from anti-government and militia movement members (77 percent) and white supremacists (75 percent).
  • Sixty-six percent of these Americans believe that the government should prosecute individuals who stormed the Capitol.

Americans have high levels of concern about future violence from extremism.

  • Roughly three-quarters of Americans aware of the incident are somewhat or very concerned about violence in the next year from anti-government and militia movement members (77%) and white supremacists (75%).
  • A smaller share, but still a majority, are somewhat or very concerned about violence associated with antifa (64%).

Unequivocally, Americans want the government to do more to address extremism.

  • Sixty-five percent want the government to do somewhat or a lot more to address the rise of far-right extremism.

To read the full survey results, click here.