National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP)

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   Chair
Edgar DeJesus
   Secretary
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Hector Figueroa

Tanya K. Hernandez
 Angelo Falcón
   President


 

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Latino Opinion Leaders 
on Black Lives Matter
Findings from NiLP's July 2016 
National Latino Opinion Leaders Survey
By Angelo Falcón (July 20, 2016)

The recent controversial police killings of African-American men and killings of police officers have raised the question of the relevance of the Black Lives Matter movement to the Latino community. As the New York Times and other media explored the problem of how Latinos are affected by poor police relations, it has become clear that although there is a widespread feeling in the Latino community that the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement are relevant to the Latino experience, this feeling has not been adequately documented.
 
In order to provide useful entry points into Latino views on police-community relations, the National Latino Opinion Leaders Survey asked a series of questions on the subject. Focusing on the relevance of the Black Lives Matter movement to the Latino experience. These Latino opinion leaders are pivotal leaders in setting priorities and framing issues within the broader Latino community, making their views on these issues indicative of wider community responses to the challenges they present.

This online survey was conducted by the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP) during July 12-18, 2016. A total of 304 Latino opinion leaders participated from throughout the United States, While this may be the closest thing to a survey of national Latino leadership in existence today, it is not based on a scientific sample, making our findings only suggestive of broader tends and attitudes. The intent of this survey is stimulate discussion and debate on critical issues facing the Latino community  by  providing some insights into the thinking of a broad range of engaged Latino leaders.
 
To get a general sense of the Latino opinion leaders' perspectives on police-Latino community relations we asked them to rate these for their local area, their views on the "broken windows: approach to policing and which police reforms they favored.
 
The Latino opinion leaders share the concern that the African-American community has regarding the state of poor police-community relations in the Latino community. Asked to rate this relationship in their local area, the overwhelming percentage rated it as only "fair" to "poor." This was the case across the board between the Mexican, Puerto Rican and other Latino opinion leaders.
.  
Table 1- How would you rate police relations with the Latino community in your local area?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Excellent
0.0%
.5%
6.0%
1.4%
Good
23.3%
15.6%
18.0%
17.6%
Fair
46.7%
51.1%
50.0%
50.0%
Poor
26.7%
22.6%
26.0%
24.0%
Not applicable
3.3%
10.2%
0.0%
7.1%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
On the controversial "broken windows" approach to policing, the result was much more mixed, It was mostly opposed by the Puerto Rican opinion leaders (49 percent) and less so by the Mexicans and other Latinos. There were also relatively large percentages of all three groups who stated they were "not sure," perhaps indicating their lack of familiarity with the concept.
 
Table 2 - Do you support or oppose the application of the
"broken windows" approach to policing?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Strongly support
5.0%
6.0%
4.1%
5.5%
Somewhat support
21.7%
13.6%
18.4%
16.0%
Somewhat oppose
13.3%
17.9%
12.2%
16.0%
Strongly oppose
23.3%
31.5%
30.6%
29.7%
Not sure
36.7%
31.0%
34.7%
32.8%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Regarding their preferred reforms to improve policing, the measure receiving greatest support among all three groups was "Better Police-Community Relations/Neighborhood Policing" by 43 percent of the Mexican opinion leaders, 35:percent of the Puerto Ricans and 38 percent of the other Latinos. This was followed by all three groups by their support for "More Emphasis on De-escalation Approaches to Policing."
 
Table 3 - Which is the most effective police reform that you support?
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
Better Police-Community Relations / Neighborhood Policing
43.3%
35.3%
38.0%
37.4%
More Emphasis on De-escalation Approaches to Policing
21.7%
25.7%
30.0%
25.6%
Greater Racial-Ethnic Diversity of Police Forces
8.3%
15.5%
8.0%
12.8%
Mandatory Use of Police Cameras
15.0%
11.2%
8.0%
11.4%
Better Training
11.7%
8.0%
10.0%
9.1%
Greater Militarization of the Police
0.0%
1.1%
0.0%
.7%
None of the above
0.0%
2.7%
4.0%
2.4%
Not
0.0%
.5%
2.0%
.7%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Very large percentages of all three groups of  Latino opinion leaders feel that Latinos face the same problems as Blacks in their interaction with law enforcement (ranging from 84-86 percent,), and the disproportionate police killings of unarmed African-American males (ranging from 66-72 percent). There is, therefore, a high degree of identification among Latino leaders with the issues being raised by the Black Live Matter Movement.
 
Table 4- Do you feel that Latinos share the same problems as Blacks
in their interaction with law enforcement?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Yes
86.4%
84.9%
84.0%
85.1%
No
6.8%
10.2%
10.0%
9.5%
Not sure
6.8%
4.8%
6.0%
5.4%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
 
Table 5 - Do Latinos have a similar problem as unarmed African-American men regarding disproportionate numbers being victims of fatal police shootings? 
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Yes
75.0%
72.7%
66.0%
72.1%
No
11.7%
8.6%
18.0%
10.8%
Not sure
13.3%
18.7%
16.0%
17.2%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
But how do Latino leaders view the Black Lives Matter movement itself and its relevance to the Latino experience? Asked how supportive they are of the Black Lives Matter movement, majorities of the three groups of Latino opinion leaders indicated they were "ve ry" to "completely" supportive (67-73 percent).  
 
Table 6 - How supportive are you of the Black Lives Matter movement?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Completely supportive
36.7%
42.5%
32.0%
39.5%
Very supportive
30.0%
31.2%
40.0%
32.4%
Somewhat Supportive
30.0%
19.9%
14.0%
20.9%
Not Supportive
0.0%
5.4%
12.0%
5.4%
Not Sure
3.3%
1.1%
2.0%
1.7%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
The same was the case when asked how relevant they feel the issues being raised by Black Live Matter was to the Latino community.
 
Table 7 - How relevant are the issues being raised by the
Black Lives Movement to the Latino community?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Completely relevant
 
36.7%
43.5%
38.0%
41.2%
Very Relevant
 
38.3%
38.2%
38.0%
38.2%
Somewhat Relevant
 
25.0%
14.0%
18.0%
16.9%
Not Relevant
 
0.0%
4.3%
4.0%
3.4%
Not sure
 
0.0%
0.0%
2.0%
.3%
Total
 
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Despite their strong identification with the issues being raised by Black Lives Matter, slight majorities of the Mexican and other Latino opinion leaders thought that an equivalent movement was needed in the Latino community (50-54 percent), in comparison with a larger majority of the Puerto Ricans (62 percent).
 
Table 8 - Do you feel that there is a need for an equivalent of the
Black Lives Matter-type movement in the Latino community?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Yes
54.2%
61.8%
50.0%
58.3%
No
23.7%
21.5%
32.0%
23.7%
Not sure
22.0%
16.7%
18.0%
18.0%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Asked about the tactics used by Black Lives Matter, small majorities of the Mexican and Puerto Rican opinion leaders stated they agreed with these tactics (53 percent reach), compared to 46 percent of other Latins.
 
Table 9 - Do you agree with the tactics used by the Black Lives Movement to promote their cause?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Yes
53.3%
53.0%
46.0%
51.9%
No
11.7%
8.6%
16.0%
10.5%
Depends
33.3%
34.6%
36.0%
34.6%
Not sure
1.7%
3.8%
2.0%
3.1%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Because in a number of Black Lives Matter marches, some protestors had strong anti-police chants, critics of this movement have charged that the whole movement was anti-police and has contributed to the recent number of shootings of police. This criticism of Black Lives Matter being anti-police is rejected by large majorities of all three groups of Latino opinion leaders.  
 
Table 10 - Do you feel that the Black Lives Movement is anti-police?
 
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Yes
28.3%
13.4%
20.0%
17.6%
No
65.0%
80.1%
68.0%
75.0%
Not sure
6.7%
6.5%
12.0%
7.4%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Another criticism lodged against Black Live Matter is that their very title is inherently racist in privileging Black lives as opposed to treating all racial lives equally. However, from its inception it has been made clear by Black Lives Matter that their basic message was that Black lives have been devalued and need to be as important as those of Whites. It appears that this criticism of Black Lives Matter's message being inherently racist has not resonated with Latino opinion leaders, large majorities (70-82 percent) of which reject this characterization of their basic message.
  
Table 11 - Do you feel that Black Lives Matter's basic message is inherently racist?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Yes
 
16.9%
10.6%
20.0%
13.5%
No
 
69.5%
81.9%
70.0%
77.4%
Not sure
 
13.6%
7.4%
10.0%
9.1%
Total
 
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Overall, how do these racial issues affect the broader society? President Obama recently argued that the United States was not as racially divided as many think, despite the horrific police killings of African-American males, the attacks on police officers and incidents of mass shootings. However, the Latino opinion leaders disagree with the President on this score. More than two-thirds of all three groups of Latino opinion leaders feel that the United States is currently "very" or "more racially divided than ever." (66-70 percent).  
 
Table 12 - How racially divided do you feel the United States is following the Dallas police massacre and the fatal police shootings of African-American males in Louisiana and Minnesota??
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
More racially divided than ever
 
16.7%
23.4%
20.0%
21.5%
 
Very racially divided
 
53.3%
49.5%
46.0%
49.7%
Somewhat racially divided
 
28.3%
23.9%
30.0%
25.8%
Not racially divided
 
0.0%
0.0%
4.0%
.7%
 
Not sure
 
1.7%
3.2%
0.0%
2.3%
Total
 
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
To provide some insights into the reasons from some of the gun violence recently experienced, the Latino opinion leaders were asked what they thought was the main reason for the recent Orlando gay club massacre. While different theories were offered in the media, there was concern in the Latino community that the large number of victims who were Puerto Rican and Latino was being ignored. It is, therefore, interesting that among the Latino opinion leaders, the main reasons identified were that it was the action of an irrational individual and the result of anti-gay bias. Very small percentages of all three groups of Latino opinion leaders (2-6 percent) pointed to anti-Latino bias as the main cause.
 
Table 13 - What do you think was the main reason behind the massacre at the Orlando, Florida gay club?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Terrorism by ISIS
8.3%
6.9%
12.0%
8.1%
Lack of adequate gun control laws
13.3%
20.2%
26.0%
19.8%
Anti-Latino bias
1.7%
3.7%
6.0%
3.7%
Anti-gay bias
43.3%
25.0%
26.0%
28.9%
The irrational actions of an isolated disturbed individual
30.0%
41.5%
28.0%
36.9%
None of the above
1.7%
0.0%
2.0%
.7%
Not sure
1.7%
2.7%
0.0%
2.0%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
 
Although gun control was listed as the third main reason behind the Orlando massacre, this has become a major issue of discussion in his period. The Latino opinion leaders were asked to identify which measures they feel would best control gun violence. All three groups selected the banning of automatic weapons as their top choice (36-48 percent), followed by mandating the registration of all firearms (13-17 percent).
 
Table 14 - Which do you think would be the
most effective measure to limit gun violence?
 
Ethnicity
Total
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Other Latino
 
Banning automatic weapons
48.3%
36.7%
36.0%
38.9%
Mandating registration of all firearms
13.3%
17.0%
16.0%
16.1%
Limiting use of firearms only to law enforcement and the military
13.3%
15.4%
18.0%
15.4%
Making possession of illegal firearms a serious federal offense
5.0%
7.4%
6.0%
6.7%
Banning access to guns by individuals on no-fly lists
3.3%
3.7%
2.0%
3.4%
No measure will have much effect
11.7%
11.7%
20.0%
13.1%
Not sure
5.0%
8.0%
2.0%
6.4%
Total
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%

As the debate over the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement continues to grow, the role of the Latino community needs to become clearer. As this survey found, much of the Latino leadership views these issues as being relevant to the Latino community and is in synch with much of the thinking of this movement. However, the Latino community has not found the way to concretely raise these issues to the level of national concern and beyond the policy cage of the immigration debate. Sone of the reasons for this failure could be the lack of resources and infrastructure, the problem of the dominant Black-White definition of American social issues that marginalizes the Latino role, the lack of a more militant political leadership, the legally vulnerable status of so many undocumented Latinos, and other reasons that need to be more fully identified and discussed.     
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
The NiLP Report on Latino Policy & Politics is an online information service provided by the National Institute for Latino Policy. For further information, visit www.latinopolicy. org. Send comments to editor@latinopolicy.org.