| Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #19133 |
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Florida Divided Over Whether Charging George Zimmerman With Murder is Too Harsh ... Or Not Harsh Enough?
Immediately after the state of Florida announced that it was charging George Zimmerman with 2nd-degree murder, SurveyUSA interviewed 900 Floridians. Of those 900 adults, 747 are following news stories about the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, and were asked the questions that follow:
* 34% say the charge of 2nd-Degree Murder is too serious. (37% of whites compared to 22% of blacks, 34% of Hispanics.)
* Whites by 2:1 see the charge as evidence that the state bent to political pressure. * 27% of Floridians maintain that Zimmerman acted in self-defense. |
| 1 | Are you following news stories about the shooting of Trayvon Martin? |
| 900 Adults | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Tea Party Member | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 2.5 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian / | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | North We | North Ea | Central | South We | South Ea | |
| Yes | 83% | 86% | 80% | 78% | 83% | 86% | 85% | 81% | 85% | 84% | 96% | 73% | ** | 76% | 86% | 88% | 72% | 84% | 80% | 91% | 87% | 87% | 85% | 83% | 86% | 79% |
| No | 13% | 13% | 14% | 14% | 14% | 13% | 11% | 14% | 13% | 14% | 3% | 18% | ** | 22% | 6% | 10% | 11% | 14% | 18% | 6% | 12% | 12% | 2% | 14% | 12% | 19% |
| Not Sure | 4% | 1% | 6% | 7% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 5% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 10% | ** | 2% | 7% | 2% | 17% | 2% | 2% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 12% | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Adults | 100% | 48% | 52% | 27% | 23% | 28% | 22% | 50% | 50% | 61% | 14% | 21% | 4% | 33% | 35% | 26% | 9% | 87% | 31% | 30% | 22% | 6% | 12% | 35% | 21% | 25% |
| 2 | Based upon what you know so far, did George Zimmerman act in self-defense? |
| 747 Following Stories | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Tea Party Member | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.7 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian / | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | North We | North Ea | Central | South We | South Ea | |
| Yes | 27% | 31% | 23% | 24% | 27% | 27% | 31% | 25% | 29% | 30% | 19% | 25% | ** | 41% | 22% | 22% | 44% | 25% | 40% | 26% | 25% | 37% | 22% | 30% | 25% | 24% |
| No | 50% | 45% | 56% | 65% | 52% | 45% | 40% | 59% | 43% | 43% | 68% | 60% | ** | 31% | 64% | 49% | 41% | 51% | 31% | 48% | 61% | 37% | 51% | 50% | 53% | 52% |
| Not Sure | 23% | 24% | 21% | 11% | 22% | 28% | 29% | 16% | 29% | 27% | 13% | 15% | ** | 28% | 14% | 29% | 14% | 23% | 29% | 26% | 14% | 26% | 27% | 20% | 22% | 24% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Following Stories | 100% | 50% | 50% | 26% | 23% | 29% | 22% | 49% | 51% | 62% | 16% | 18% | 4% | 30% | 37% | 27% | 8% | 88% | 29% | 33% | 23% | 7% | 13% | 35% | 22% | 24% |
| 3 | The state of Florida has charged George Zimmerman with murder in the 2nd degree. Given what you know, is this charge ... too serious? Not serious enough? Or just right? |
| 747 Following Stories | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Tea Party Member | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.7 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian / | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | North We | North Ea | Central | South We | South Ea | |
| Too Serious | 34% | 37% | 31% | 28% | 38% | 34% | 36% | 33% | 35% | 37% | 22% | 34% | ** | 45% | 29% | 27% | 45% | 32% | 46% | 35% | 26% | 45% | 28% | 38% | 33% | 29% |
| Not Serious Enough | 18% | 19% | 18% | 26% | 20% | 12% | 16% | 23% | 14% | 12% | 31% | 25% | ** | 15% | 21% | 16% | 30% | 17% | 17% | 15% | 19% | 17% | 25% | 16% | 16% | 20% |
| Just Right | 41% | 37% | 45% | 43% | 38% | 45% | 39% | 40% | 42% | 43% | 43% | 38% | ** | 32% | 46% | 49% | 15% | 45% | 29% | 44% | 52% | 29% | 39% | 38% | 46% | 48% |
| Not Sure | 7% | 7% | 6% | 3% | 4% | 9% | 10% | 4% | 9% | 8% | 4% | 3% | ** | 8% | 4% | 8% | 11% | 6% | 9% | 6% | 3% | 9% | 8% | 9% | 6% | 2% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Following Stories | 100% | 50% | 50% | 26% | 23% | 29% | 22% | 49% | 51% | 62% | 16% | 18% | 4% | 30% | 37% | 27% | 8% | 88% | 29% | 33% | 23% | 7% | 13% | 35% | 22% | 24% |
| 4 | Is the state of Florida making this charge ... more because the state thinks a crime was committed ... or more because the state is bending to public pressure? |
| 747 Following Stories | All | Gender | Age | <50 / 50+ | Race | Party Affiliation | Tea Party Member | Ideology | Region | |||||||||||||||||
| Credibility Interval: ± 3.6 pct points | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | 18-49 | 50+ | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian / | Republic | Democrat | Independ | Yes | No | Conserva | Moderate | Liberal | North We | North Ea | Central | South We | South Ea | |
| Crime Was Committed | 35% | 31% | 38% | 28% | 35% | 37% | 39% | 32% | 38% | 32% | 50% | 29% | ** | 31% | 39% | 35% | 40% | 35% | 27% | 36% | 39% | 34% | 39% | 33% | 30% | 40% |
| Bending To Public Pressure | 58% | 64% | 51% | 63% | 60% | 54% | 53% | 62% | 54% | 60% | 42% | 65% | ** | 65% | 52% | 58% | 56% | 57% | 67% | 57% | 55% | 57% | 49% | 61% | 61% | 54% |
| Not Sure | 8% | 5% | 11% | 9% | 4% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 9% | 8% | 7% | 5% | ** | 4% | 9% | 7% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 7% | 6% | 9% | 12% | 6% | 9% | 6% |
| Total | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Composition of Following Stories | 100% | 50% | 50% | 26% | 23% | 29% | 22% | 49% | 51% | 62% | 16% | 18% | 4% | 30% | 37% | 27% | 8% | 88% | 29% | 33% | 23% | 7% | 13% | 35% | 22% | 24% |