Survey: 3 in 5 Americans think Jews are likely to face public bullying

A Rasmussen poll finds about half believe Muslims are similarly likely

The Rock, a landmark by the University of Michigan, covered in graffiti with slogans about the war. Jewish stars and the phrase “Am Yisrael Chai” were painted over in red. Photo by Debrah Miszak

By Louis Keene January 30, 2024

Roughly 3 in 5 Americans think Jewish people are more likely to face public bullying than any other religious group, according to a new poll by Rasmussen Reports.

The survey of 1,173 Americans, conducted online and by phone earlier this month, found that 63% think practicing Jews face bullying, compared to about 49% for practicing Muslims.

Respondents were called on to answer the question, “In the United States today, how likely is it that those who practice Judaism are publicly bullied?” Definitions of “public bullying” and “practicing” were not included in the poll. The demographic group that was most confident about the likelihood of Jewish bullying were men older than 65.

48% of respondents thought Christians are unlikely to be bullied, compared to 43% who see them as likely to be bullied.

Coming amid warnings about rising antisemitism in the United States from mainstream institutions like the Anti-Defamation League, the results, showing that most Americans agree that Jews are bullied, may undercut another idea with growing currency lately: that antisemitism tends to get ignored in comparison to other forms of bigotry.

The demographic group that was most confident about the likelihood of Jewish bullying were men older than 65.

Louis Keene is a reporter for the Forward. His work has also been published in The New York Times, New York Magazine and VICE. He is based in Los Angeles and can be followed on Twitter @thislouis.

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