76% of People Favor Police Presence on Campuses, According to Morning Consult Poll

According to a recent poll, over 75% of Americans believe colleges and universities should involve police to protect students from violence, and almost half think pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses should be prohibited.

The poll, conducted by Morning Consult and taken from April 27-28, surveyed 1,986 registered voters amidst a wave of arrests following student protests against Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. The students sought divestment from companies profiting from the conflict, leading to instances of harassment and antisemitism on campus.

The poll, with a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, revealed that 76% support schools calling police to ensure student safety, and 47% endorse banning pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.

Across party lines, Americans were united in their views on police involvement for student protection, with 79% of Republicans, 76% of Democrats, and 71% of independents in agreement.

While 30% believe pro-Palestinian protests should be banned and 41% think the same for pro-Israel demonstrations, only 10% were against calling police for student protection.

Regarding divestment from companies involved in the conflict, only 38%, including 50% of Democrats, supported the idea. Additionally, 60% favored a cease-fire in the conflict, 58% backed humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, and 47% opposed military aid to Israel.

The poll highlighted the low priority of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for voters, but also hinted at its potential impact on upcoming elections, especially among younger voters.