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A Rasmussen Reports survey released Wednesday found that the majority of Americans are worried that anti-police rhetoric, which is often pushed by progressive Democrats, will result in a shortage of law enforcement officers and endanger public safety.
The April 13-14 survey, distributed to 1,000 likely U.S. voters, asked respondents, âHow concerned are you that the growing criticism of Americaâs police will lead to a shortage of police officers and reduce public safety in the community where you live?â
Sixty-three percent said they are either âveryâ or âsomewhatâ concerned about anti-police rhetoric.
Eighty-four percent of Republicans, 52 percent of Democrats, and 59 percent of independents expressed different levels of concern over the rhetoric. Additionally, 52 percent of black voters said they are concerned, and 61 percent of non-white voters are equally troubled.
The questionnaire comes as the nation debates police reform, after the killing of a black man, George Floyd, was filmed. Police officer, Derek Chauvin, is shown holding his knee on Floyd for nine minutes. The killing last May caused a public outcry and Democrats began more consistent calls to defund police departments.
After a more recent shooting of a black man named Daunte Wright, Democrats double-downed on their opposition to policing in the United States.
âPolicing in our country is inherently & intentionally racist. I am done with those who condone government-funded murder,â Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said last week. âNo more policing, incarceration, and militarization. It canât be reformed.â
âNo fair-minded person believes that cops, many of whom are racial minorities, get up every day and go to work hoping for the opportunity to be able to hurt someone, including but not limited to people of color,â said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) during an interview with Fox News on Thursday. âThatâs nonsense. But the âwoke-a-reestasâ like the congresswoman, they really believe that. They really do hate cops, just because theyâre cops. They really do want to defund the police,â he continued.
âThe âwoke-a-reestasâ really do believe that when a cop shoots a criminal, it is alwaysâevery single timeâthe copâs fault, but when a criminal shoots a cop, it is alwaysâevery single timeâthe gunâs fault. These folks really do have contempt for America, they should have gratitude,â said Kennedy.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is another progressive representative who has been leading the call for reforming police departments and the justice system. After ex-police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of Floyd, she said the guilty verdict does not show that the U.S. justice system works.
âNo, this verdict is not justice,â said Ocasio-Cortez. âFrankly, I donât even think we call it full accountability because there are multiple officers that were there. It wasnât just Derek Chauvin. And I also donât want this moment to be framed as this system working, because itâs not working.â She added that the verdict cannot replace policy change within the criminal justice system.
Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortezâs offices did not immediately respond to a request for a statement about Kennedyâs interview comments.
Although President Joe Biden has said he does not support defunding police departments, he has pushed for the progressive climate, education, healthcare, police reform, and gun control agenda. Kennedy said President Biden is encouraging progressives, which is making communities less safe.
âHe knows better, and heâs encouraged it. And it is a hurting America, and it is hurting people. And I knew that President Biden would be left of center, I never dreamed heâd be left of Lenin,â said Kennedy.
Contrary to what Tlaib and Ocasio-Cortez have said about police, the majority of Americans identified policing as âone of the most important jobs in our country today.â