ADL Poll: Anti-Semitic Attitudes Match Lowest Level Recorded
Targeting of Jews For Violence And Blame Continues
NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2009 -- A nationwide survey of the American people released
today by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) finds anti-Semitic attitudes equal
to the lowest level in all the years of taking the pulse of the American
attitudes toward Jews.
The survey found that 12 percent of Americans hold anti-Semitic views, a
decline from 15 percent in 2007 and matching the lowest figure ever recorded
by ADL, in 1998. In its 1964-benchmark survey 29 percent of Americans were
categorized as having anti-Semitic views.
The 2009 Survey of American AttitudesToward Jews in America, a national
telephone survey of 1,200 American adults, was conducted September 26-October
4, 2009 by Marttila Communications of Washington, D.C. and Boston. The margin
of error is +/- 2.8 percent.
"The fact that anti-Semitic attitudes have reached their lowest point to date
is good news, the product of many years of constant and intense efforts by ADL
and others to make America a more accepting society," said Abraham H. Foxman,
ADL National Director.
"At the same time," Mr. Foxman noted, "there continues to be violence
targeting Jews and an increasing use of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. We
can't dismiss that 12 percent of the American people means that there are
still over 30 million Americans that hold anti-Semitic views."
Commenting on the incongruity of good numbers with the headlines of
anti-Semitic violent incidents and public expressions, Mr. Foxman said that
"just as the good news about the election of an African-American as President
has been tempered by the surfacing of racism and conspiratorial thinking in
reaction, so too the significant diminution of widespread prejudice against
Jews is tempered by the manifestation of violence, conspiracy theories and
insensitivities toward them."
Mr. Foxman added "that even in this 2009 good news survey, some bad news
remains a constant, such as 30 percent believing that American Jews are more
loyal to Israel than to America, and 29 percent believing that Jews are
responsible for the death of Christ. Equally of concern is that more than a
quarter of African-Americans -- 28 percent -- hold anti-Semitic beliefs and
more than a third of foreign born Hispanics -- 35 percent --have such
attitudes."
The Findings: Reinforcing Certain Trends
-- Education remains a strong predictor of anti-Semitic propensities,
with
the most well-educated Americans largely free of prejudicial views
while
less educated Americans are more likely to hold anti-Semitic views.
19.5
percent of Americans with less than a college education hold
anti-Semitic views, a significantly higher figure than the overall 12
percent.
-- The major manifestations of anti-Semitic attitudes lie in the
accusation
of disproportionate Jewish power among those holding anti-Semitic
views.
-- 79 percent of those holding anti-Semitic views believe that Jews
have too much power in business, compared to 18 percent of the
general population.
-- 68 percent accuse Jews of controlling Wall Street, compared to 15
percent overall.
-- 64 percent say that Jews have too much power in the U.S. compared
to
13% overall.
-- Once again, the survey found a major gap between foreign-born Hispanic
attitudes toward Jews and for those born in the U.S.
-- 35 percent of foreign-born Hispanics hold anti-Semitic views,
compared to 18 percent for those born in the U.S. This finding
holds
out the hope that children of Hispanic immigrants, exposed to
America's diverse society and education, will continue to move
away
from classical anti-Semitic attitudes.
-- Attitudes towards Jews in the African-American community continue to
be
of concern though in this survey there is a significant decline in
those
holding anti-Semitic views.
-- 28 percent of African-Americans fall into the category of those
holding anti-Semitic views, a lowering from the high of 37 percent
in 1992 and 32 percent in 2007.
-- At all age levels, men are more likely than women to hold anti-Semitic
views. Between the ages of 18-39, 16 percent of men compared to 12
percent of women hold anti-Semitic views; between the ages of 40-64,
12
percent of men and 10 percent of women hold anti-Semitic views, and 65
and older, 15 percent of men and 9 percent of women hold anti-Semitic
views.
In measuring anti-Semitic attitudes the survey relied upon an anti-Semitism
index developed by ADL and the University of California over 45 years ago.
The index includes 11 questions which are used to gauge respondent's
anti-Semitic propensities. Those who agree with six or more of the index
statements are considered to have anti-Semitic attitudes.
Methodology
Marttila Communications, a Washington, DC/Boston-based public opinion research
firm, which has conducted ADL's previous surveys, conducted this national
telephone survey of 1,747 adults. The base sample is 1,200 plus an oversample
of 256 African Americans and 250 Hispanics, bringing the oversample for both
communities to 400 each.
For those questions answered by all 1,200 respondents, the survey results have
a margin of error of +/- 2.8 percent. For many questions, the survey used the
technique of "split sampling," a process in which the 1,200 person sample was
split into two demographically representative samples of 600 respondents each.
For those questions that were answered by 600 respondents, the survey has a
margin of error of +/- 4 percent.
The purpose of split sampling in the survey was to maximize the number of
questions that could be asked, to test different hypotheses about an issue,
and to test the impact of different question wording.
The full poll is available online at
http://www.adl.org/Anti_semitism/poll_as_2009/default.asp
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading
organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that
counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
CONTACT: Myrna Shinbaum of the Anti-Defamation League, +1-212-885-7747,
adlmedia@adl.org
/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Oct. 29/
SOURCE Anti-Defamation League
© Thomson Reuters 2009 All rights reserved
Friday 30 October 2009
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