In this file photo, a member of the Proud Boys, right, stands in front of a counter protester as members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators rally on Sept. 26, 2020.
John Locher/AP
Tensions are high among American voters ahead of presidential contests next year, according to a new national survey released today by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) in partnership with the Brookings Institution.
Researchers found that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe democracy is ‘at risk’ in the upcoming presidential election — and about a quarter of those surveyed said they think “American patriots may have to resort to violence to save the country.”
“I think we’re in for a pretty challenging election season between now and the presidential election in 2024,” said Robert Jones, the CEO and founder of the PRRI — a nonpartisan group that conducts research on the intersection of politics, culture and religion.
According to the PRRI study, 75% of Americans surveyed said they agree that the “future of American democracy is at risk in the 2024 presidential election.” Democrats were more likely to hold this view with 84% support, but supermajorities of Republicans and independent voters said they also agreed with that statement.
Jones told NPR the most disturbing finding, however, is that more Americans support political violence. Nearly a quarter of Americans (23%) agree that “because things have gotten so far off track, true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country,” according to the…
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