Racism in US rising under Trump: survey

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON

Race relations have gotten increasingly worse since the election of President Donald Trump, according to a new study.

Politico magazine and Morning Consult, a research company, released the survey Wednesday of registered voters in the run-up to the one year anniversary Aug. 11-12, 2017, of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Fifty-five percent of voters believe race relations have soured in the Trump era, while 18 percent believe it has stayed the same, according to the survey.

For white voters, more than half said race relations have gotten worse. That percentage is much higher for Hispanics at 60 percent and African Americans at 79 percent.

The study shows more Republicans believe race relations are improving versus the number saying it is deteriorating. Democrats overwhelmingly view the situation as getting worse, at 82 percent.

In Charlottesville, as the anniversary of the unrest approaches, Governor Ralph Northam and Charlottesville officials have declared a state of emergency.

Last year, the Unite the Right rally resulted in violence as white supremacist groups clashed with counter-protesters, leaving three people dead.

Organizers were unable to obtain a permit to hold the event in Charlottesville this year, and have opted to host it in Washington, DC on Aug. 12.