Latino Interest in Ferguson Police Shooting, Protest 'Small' Compared to Blacks, Whites
Public opinion about Michael Brown's death differs among blacks, whites and Hispanics.
In a national survey by Pew Research Center, 44 percent of respondents said they believe Brown's death raised an important issue that needs to be discussed. Forty percent of respondents said the issue of race is already receiving "more attention than it deserves."
Within the Hispanic community, interest in the events in Ferguson is small compared to non-Hispanic blacks and whites. According to Pew, 18 percent of Hispanics had an interest in the events in Ferguson. When non-Hispanic whites were asked the same question, 25 percent expressed an interest. Non-Hispanic blacks showed the strongest interest in the events in Ferguson with 54 percent.
The survey revealed blacks are almost twice as likely as whites to say that Brown's shooting raises important issues about race. Hispanics, with 50 percent, also believed that the Ferguson shooting raised issues of race, while 25 percent said the issue is getting "too much" attention. Meanwhile, 37 percent of whites agreed that Brown's death brings up important issues, while 47 percent of whites said there's already more attention on race than it deserves.
In regards to the management by law enforcement, 65 percent of blacks said the police went "too far" in response to Brown's death but 28 percent of blacks said police action "has been about right." With 31 percent, blacks also responded that they were unsure about law enforcement's response to the shooting.
Whites were divided on how police responded with 33 percent stating they went "too far" and 32 percent stating their actions have been "about right." The majority of whites, with 35 percent, were unsure.
Black respondents, in large numbers, have no confidence in the investigation of Brown's death. With 76 percent, blacks said their confidence in the investigation was little to "none at all." Meanwhile, 18 percent of blacks expressed "great deal" or a "fair amount" of trust in the investigation. Whites showed more confidence in the investigation with 52 percent while 33 percent disagreed. Seven percent of blacks were unsure of their confidence levels in the investigation while 15 percent of whites share the same opinion.
Between the two major political parties, a division of opinion was evident. Democrats, with 68 percent, said Brown's shooting raised the importance of discussing race while only 22 percent of Republicans agreed. Republicans believed race has received too much attention, with 61 percent of respondents sharing that sentiment and 21 percent of Democrats agreeing.
Among millennials, between the ages of 19 and 29, 55 percent said the shooting brought the importance to talk about race issues while 34 percent thought differently and 11 percent were unsure.
The Pew Research Center for the People and Press survey was conducted between Aug. 14 and Aug. 17.