The National Survey of Anti-Semitism in America was conducted among likely voters in the 2020 elections to gauge opinions on anti-Semitism in the U.S. The survey reveals how voters of different regions, political views, religious affiliations, races, genders, and ages view anti-Semitism in America, the Democratic party, remarks by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Israel, and other consequential issues.
This major new poll was conducted by McLaughlin & Associates in May 2019 for Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom. The launch event featured keynote remarks of the Hon. Elan S. Carr, the U.S. Department of State’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, pollster John McLaughlin, and major scholars of anti-Semitism based in the U.S. and Europe.
Click here to view the survey results.
Major findings:
* Contrary to fears that anti-Semitism has become normalized in the U.S., most likely voters are familiar with anti-Semitism and believe it is increasing. In an open-ended question, 62% of participants wrote in that anti-Semitism is a hatred of Jews or bigotry.
* Religious intolerance is seen as the leading cause of anti-Semitism (25%), followed by Muslim extremism (19%).
* Attempts on college campuses to shut down pro-Israel speakers is viewed by a majority (54%) of likely voters as anti-Semitic.
* The Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) movement is seen as anti-Semitic by a majority of likely voters by a nearly 3-to-1 ratio. A plurality of respondents think the U.S. should oppose BDS campaigns.
* It is not Islamophobic to criticize Congresswoman Ilhan Omar for her views on Israel, noted 63% of respondents. 40% of likely voters have an unfavorable opinion of Congresswoman Omar, while 21% have a favorable opinion.
* The Democratic party is not doing enough to combat anti-Semitism within its own party, respondents noted by a 2-to-1 ratio (48% to 22%).
* A solid majority (57%) of respondents want Israel to be the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East.
* Overwhelming majority (80%) believe it is true that in the Holocaust 6 million Jews were targeted and exterminated. Respondents under 40 years of age were 31% less likely to believe that the Holocaust occurred.
* By a 2-to-1 ratio, likely voters have a favorable opinion of Israel. A majority believe that U.S. support of Israel is “about right” or “too little.”
Watch our full event releasing the poll results.
Read our report on Anti-Semitism Among Islamists in Germany.
View the full results of the National Survey of Anti-Semitism in America.