New data shows what types of anti-Israel and pro-Hamas activities Americans believe should be protected under the First Amendment.
By a 66%-22% margin, Americans support deporting non-citizens who publicly support terrorist groups such as Hamas and the killing of Jews.
- This includes 58% of Democrats, 54% of Gen Z voters, and 47% of black voters.
Americans across demographic groups also broadly agree on what types of expression and activities should not be protected as free speech under the First Amendment.
WHY IT MATTERS – The results show why there has been such intense backlash to pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests on college campuses and major cities.
HOW TO USE THIS DATA – Cracking down on terrorist sympathizers in the United States is a magnet issue that helps build a New Majority coalition.
Click on the image below to read the full report…or read the summary below.
When it comes to the Israel-Hamas war, there is broad agreement on what should be considered protected speech under the First Amendment.
- Similar percentages of Republicans, Democrats, and independents believe certain activities related to the Israel-Hamas war should be considered protected speech.
- New Majority and Left Minority voters also have similar views on what should be protected speech.
- A majority or plurality of all political groups agree that opposing Israel’s military response to the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack should be protected speech.
- However, a plurality or majority of Americans also agree that activities such as expressing support for Hamas, calling for the destruction of Israel, expressing support for the killing of Jews, and intimidation tactics against Jewish Americans should NOT be protected.
There are significant divisions by party, race, and age over whether non-citizens should have the same First Amendment rights as U.S. citizens.
- 48% of Americans say non-citizens living in the U.S. should not have the same First Amendment protections as U.S. citizens. 36% say they should.
- This includes 68% of Republicans and 48% of independents, but just 29% of Democrats.
- A majority of white voters (55%) say non-citizens should not have the same First Amendment rights as U.S. citizens, while a majority or plurality of Hispanics (51%), blacks (46%), and Asians (49%) say they should.
- There is a large age divide. 64% of Gen Z say non-citizens should be granted the same First Amendment protections as U.S. citizens while 59% of Baby Boomers say they should not.
- 57% of America’s New Majority voters say non-citizens should not be granted the same First Amendment protections as U.S. citizens while 60% of Left minority voters say they should.
Magnet Issue — Broad agreement on deporting terrorist sympathizers.
- 66% of Americans support deporting non-citizens who publicly support the killing of Jews and terrorist groups such as Hamas. 22% oppose.
- This includes majorities of Republicans (78%), Democrats (58%), and swing voters (68%).
- Large majorities of key new majority groups support deporting Hamas sympathizers, making this a magnet issue for building the America’s New Majority coalition.
A Republican candidate who favors deporting terrorist sympathizers defeats a Democratic candidate who opposes it by 26 points.
- This is a gain of 9 points and a 22-point swing in favor of the GOP candidate compared to the generic ballot.
- The hypothetical GOP candidate gains primarily with swing voters, Democrats, women, and older voters.
- 7 points out of the 9-point gain for the GOP candidate comes from New Majority voters.