The vast majority of Americans agreed with the guilty verdict in former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chavin’s trial but nearly half of Republicans think it was wrong, according to a new CBS News/YouGov poll.
Majorities of every group, including Republicans, said the jury reached the correct verdict but 46% of self-identified GOP voters disagreed.
By comparison, 90% of Democrats and 75% of independents said they believe the jury reached the correct verdict.
About 70% of white respondents agreed that the jury’s decision was correct while 93% of Black respondents supported the verdict.
In all, 75% of respondents agreed with the verdict compared to 25% who did not.
Respondents back Biden, split on BLM:
Republicans widely criticized President Joe Biden for weighing in on the trial before the verdict was reached but the poll found that 60% of Americans approve of Biden’s handling of trial and George Floyd’s death compared to 40% who disapprove.
Opinions were more divided on Black Lives Matter.
About 48% of respondents said they agree with the ideas of the Black Lives Matter movement compared to 38% who disagree and 13% who said they are not sure.
Majorities support police:
Local police departments received the most support in the poll, with large majorities of Black and white Americans endorsing the job their local cops are doing.
A third of respondents said their local police are doing a “very good” job, including 39% of white respondents and 17% of Black respondents.
But 46% said their police were doing at least a “somewhat good job,” including 53% of Black respondents and 43% of whites.
Only 21% of Americans said their local police are doing a bad job, an opinion shared by 18% of white respondents and 30% of Black respondents.
