Protesting the police: an analysis of the correlates of support for police reform following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests

Abstract

ABSTRACT The social movement literature has long recognized a disjunct between how the public evaluates a protest’s message and means. Even during times of heightened sympathy for a protest’s message – such as occurred following George Floyd’s murder – the public can remain critical of a protest movement itself. In this study, we examine the correlates of support for a range of police reforms following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. We find that support for police reform varies widely based upon the specific reform. Moreover, we find perceptions of the means and makeup of the protestors – how they protest and who they are – influence support for their message. Further, we find that support for police reform is affected by a respondent’s individual characteristics and prior beliefs about race and policing. This study deepens our understanding of the relationship between how the means and ends of social movements are perceived.