As Democrats consider an “agenda of reparations” to appeal to black voters in 2020, a new poll reveals that most Americans oppose the idea.
According to a new Rasmussen poll released on Tuesday, 66% of Americans disapprove of slavery reparations. Just 21% poll in favor of the controversial policy, meanwhile 13% are undecided.
“Support for reparations is up slightly from 17% in March of last year; opposition is down from 70%,” writes Rasmussen. “Sixty percent (60%) of black voters favor reparations to those who can prove they are descended from slaves. Seventy-three percent (73%) of whites, 32% of blacks and 64% of other minority voters are opposed.”
The polling results come as the policy garners more support among 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), as well as former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro.
Sen. Booker proposed a bill on Monday that would set up a commission to study the impact of slavery on present-day U.S. society and come up with recommendations for reparations proposals, Fox News reports.
Over the weekend, freshman Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) called on the Democratic Party to pursue an “agenda of reparations” among other proposals including single-payer healthcare, Medicare-for-all, and tuition free college.