Two months after George Floyd’s death, protests and calls for policies to address systemic racism continue across the country, and racial justice issues could play a pivotal role in the presidential and congressional elections this fall. In our July PPIC Statewide Survey, we find that most Californians support Black Lives Matter—a movement that the late civil rights icon and US Representative John Lewis, who is being memorialized today, saw as a continuation of his life’s work. While racism is widely viewed as a big problem, we find significant racial disparities in Californians’ experiences of discrimination and unfair treatment due to race or ethnicity.

Almost seven in ten Californians strongly (31%) or somewhat (37%) support the Black Lives Matter movement—which has been at the forefront of protests against police brutality and systemic racism. Majorities across demographic groups and regions of the state support the Black Lives Matter movement. Notably, 85% of African Americans, 79% of Latinos, and 78% of adults under 35 express favorable views. Democrats (91%) and independents (65%) are much more likely than Republicans (25%) to express support for Black Lives Matter.

Figure - A Majority of African Americans Strongly Support Black Lives Matter

Most Californians view the criminal justice system as biased against African Americans. At least half across the state’s regions and demographic groups hold this view, including 91% of African Americans and 79% of those under 35. Here, too, there are partisan differences, with strong majorities of Democrats (84%) and independents (66%) but fewer Republicans (30%) saying there is racial bias.

Figure - Majorities across Racial/Ethnic Groups Think the Criminal Justice System Is Biased against African Americans

Six in ten Californians consider racism to be a big problem in the US today. At least half across regions and demographic groups hold this view, including 86% of African Americans and 66% of adults under 35. Here again, there is a wide partisan divide: eight in ten Democrats (81%) and about half of independents (55%) see racism as a big problem, compared to just one in four Republicans (25%).

Racism affects many Californians. Specifically, 71% of African Americans say they have experienced discrimination or have been treated unfairly because of their race either regularly (22%) or from time to time (49%). About six in ten Asian Americans (5% regularly, 57% from time to time) and 45% of Latinos (7% regularly, 38% from time to time) say they have faced discrimination or unfair treatment because of their race or ethnicity, compared to 23% of whites (2% regularly, 21% from time to time).

Figure - Experiences of Discrimination Vary Widely across Racial/Ethnic Groups

We find substantial agreement across racial/ethnic groups on racial issues, but we also see a deep political divide between Democratic and Republican voters. Stay tuned to the PPIC Statewide Survey as we continue to track the views of Californians on race and monitor the impact of this and other key issues on the November election.