More voters consider Black Lives Matter demonstrations in three cities to be riots instead of protests, according to a Fox News poll released Sunday.
The poll found that 48% of likely voters viewed the demonstrations in New York, Portland, and Kenosha, Wisconsin, as riots, while 40% viewed the demonstrations as protests.
The poll also broke down views based on political affiliation, with 68% of Republicans calling the demonstrations riots. Only 30% of Democrats said the same.
Of the respondents, 39% blamed the violence on “left-wing radicals,” while 33% blamed “right-wing radicals.” Another 9% of respondents placed the blame on both sides.
The poll found that 52% of white voters called the demonstrations riots, but 62% of black voters and 48% of Hispanic voters viewed them as protests.
When it comes to bringing the country together, 54% of voters said they trust Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. Only 40% said they trust President Trump to do the same.
The poll, conducted between Sept 7-10, randomly sampled 1,311 registered voters and 1,191 likely voters through phone and in-person interviews.
The three cities cited in the poll have become epicenters of unrest following the death of George Floyd in May.
Trump has denounced the riots repeatedly, including during the Republican National Convention when he said, “If the Democrat Party wants to stand with anarchists, agitators, rioters, looters, and flag burners, that is up to them. But I, as your president, will not be a part of it. The Republican Party will remain the voice of the patriotic heroes who keep America safe and salute the American flag.”
Biden has also come out against violence, saying, “I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the Left or the Right. And I challenge Donald Trump to do the same.”
*story by The Washington Examiner