WASHINGTON—Voters are sharply divided by political party over which groups of Americans face discrimination, a Wall Street Journal poll finds, with more than 80% of Democrats saying that Black, Latino, gay and Jewish people face prejudice while a majority of Republicans say discrimination is more often aimed at white people and Christians.
Voters in the two parties are divided, for example, over whether Black or white Americans face the bigger problems with discrimination. Some 59% of Republicans in the Journal survey said that white people face discrimination or prejudice, compared with 21% of Democrats who said so. By contrast, 88% of Democrats said Black people face discrimination or prejudice, compared with 49% of Republicans who said so.
In the Journal survey, a large share of Republicans—some 61%—said discrimination is a problem for Christians in America, while only 25% of Democrats agreed. At the same time, 85% of Democrats, but 38% of Republicans, said gay and lesbian Americans face discrimination.
The two parties also had different views of the extent of prejudice against Jews. Some 81% of Democrats said prejudice against Jews is a problem in the country, including 50% who called it a major problem. Among Republicans, 49% saw a problem, including 18% who called it a major problem.
Gladys Perry, a poll participant who works in a nursing home and rehabilitation facility, said she thought prejudice was rising against many groups in society. “White people, Black people, gay people, different ethnicities—everybody just seems so uptight,” said Ms. Perry, 67, who is Black and lives in Camden, N.J. “I think it’s that different races think their needs are being met and other races feel like they are not.”
R&I – TxPAT
