Poll finds nearly one in three college students condone violence against speakers

The short version

• A poll of 63,000 U.S. college students by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression revealed that 30 percent view violence as acceptable in at least rare cases to stop a speaker.[The Hill]
• The survey also showed that 69 percent of respondents believe shouting down a speaker is acceptable.[The Hill]
• While the share of students condoning violence dropped 4 points compared to last year, it remains 10 points higher than four years prior.[The Hill]
• Respondents identified the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Trump, and the late Charlie Kirk as the hardest topics to address on campus.[The Hill]

Key facts

• Thirty percent of 63,000 surveyed U.S. college students said using violence to stop a campus speaker is acceptable in rare cases.[The Hill]
• The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression published the survey findings on Wednesday.[The Hill]
• Acceptance of violence dropped 4 percentage points from the prior year but remains 10 points higher than four years ago.[The Hill]
• Sixty-nine percent of respondents indicated that shouting down a campus speaker is acceptable.[The Hill]
• Students cited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Trump, and Charlie Kirk as the three most difficult topics to discuss on campus.[The Hill]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• A year after Charlie Kirk's death, almost 1 in 3 students say violence can be used to stop campus speakersThe Hill