Beyond George Floyd: Examining the Intersection of Race, Racial Resentment, and Police Fund Reallocation Sentiments

• In Event: Activism, Protest & Policing

Abstract

Some scholars have suggested that there is a current legitimacy crisis in policing, especially in the context of several controversial police-involved deaths over the past years. As such, discussion has mounted as to whether there should be a reallocation of funds from policing to other crime prevention services, with various public opinion polls gauging attitudes on this matter. As an exploration of the potentially racialized nature of these opinions, the current project employed multivariate analyses to consider whether public sentiment regarding reallocation of police money varied based on race and racial resentment. Using survey data taken from a national sample of US citizens in the summer immediately following George Floyd’s murder, the authors assessed overall levels of support found for reallocation of funds at that time, as well concerns respondents expressed if funds were to be reallocated. Preliminary results revealed that racially resentful respondents were less supportive of reallocating funds from police and expressed greater concern over what would happen if police funding was reallocated. Race was unrelated to these attitudes.

Authors

• Jillian Leigh Chamberlain, University of South Carolina

• Marshae Capers, University of South Florida

• Jordan Issac Cline, Wichita State University

• Akili Murphy, Fayetteville State University

• Christi Metcalfe, University of South Carolina