Poll Shows Opposition To Cutting Police Budget, Athletes Kneeling

By Chris CasteelStaff writer ccasteel@oklahoman.comAs state and local officials examine potential solutions to racial inequity, a new poll shows nearly half of likely Oklahoma voters agree there is racial bias in law enforcement but nearly two-thirds don’t want police funding cut. The poll, by Amber Integrated of Oklahoma City, also shows that 40% of likely voters in the state believe athletes should be allowed to kneel during the national anthem before games. Answers to the questions, asked during a survey earlier this month, were highly influenced by a voter’s political party. More than 80% of Republican voters surveyed said they opposed reductions for law enforcement, while 52% of Democratic voters and 44% of independents did. On the question of racial basis in law enforcement, 33% of likely Republican voters agreed there was bias, while 72% of Democratic voters and 50% of independents agreed there was bias. The poll came as two state Senate committees conducted interim studies this month on racial issues. One study, led by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, an Oklahoma City Republican, looked at police training and how lawmakers in some other states have responded to incidents of excessive force that have led to massive protests around the country this year. “I am not the expert, but I do want to have a conversation in the Senate including law enforcement, including victims, including members of the minority community,” Treat said at a hearing on Sept.Read more on NewsOK.com