The State of Antisemitism in America 2020: AJC's Survey of the General Public

AJC’s 2020 Survey of the General Public on Antisemitism, conducted by the research company SSRS, is based on telephone interviews carried out September 15 – September 20, with a national sample of 1,010 people over age 18. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.7%. Find the methodology report here. AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective office.

View More:

• To see results from the State of Antisemitism in America 2020: AJC's Survey of American Jews, click here.

• To see how results from this survey compare to results from the State of Antisemitism in America 2020: AJC's Survey of American Jews, click here.

<< Download a copy of the 2020 results here >>

1.	How familiar are you with the term antisemitism?

Heard of it and know what it means	53%
Heard the term, but unsure what it means	25%
Have never heard of the term	21%

Familiar - 53% Not familiar - 46%

 

2.	How much of a problem, if at all, do you think antisemitism is in the United States today?

A very serious problem	19%
Somewhat of a problem	43%
Not much of a problem	23%
Not a problem at all	10%

A Problem - 62% Not a Problem - 33%

 

3.	Over the past five years, do you think antisemitism in the United States has…

Increased a lot	15%
Increased somewhat	28%
Stayed the same	39%
Decreased a little	9%
Decreased a lot	5%

Increased - 43% Stayed the same - 39% Decreased - 14%

 

4.	Over the past five years, have you seen any antisemitic incidents, such as negative remarks or online content about Jewish people, or physical attacks on Jewish people or their religious facilities?

Yes, one time	12%
Yes, more than one time	36%
No	52%

Yes - 48% No - 52%

 

5a.	To what extent, if at all, do you think the Democratic Party holds antisemitic views?

A lot	14%
Some	28%
Not much	27%
Not at all	27%
Don't know/refused	5%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

A lot/Some - 42% Not much/at all - 54% Don't know or refused - 5%

 

5b.	To what extent, if at all, do you think the Republican Party holds antisemitic views?

A lot	19%
Some	33%
Not much	18%
Not at all	25%
Don't know/refused	5%
	AJC is a non-partisan organization that neither supports nor endorses candidates for elective offices.

A lot/Some - 52% Not much/at all - 43% Don't know or refused - 5%

 

6a.	How familiar are you with the BDS movement?

Very familiar	5%
Somewhat familiar	20%
Not too familiar	28%
Not at all familiar	47%

Familiar - 25% Not familiar - 75%

 

6b.	Do you view the BDS movement as antisemitic?

Mostly antisemitic	21%
Some antisemitic supporters	47%
Not antisemitic	19%
Don't know/refused	13%

Mostly antisemitic/has antisemitic supporters - 68% Not antisemitic - 19% Don't know - 13%

 

7a.	Do you view the statement, “Israel has no right to exist,” as antisemitic or not?

Yes, antisemitic	74%
No, not antisemitic	21%
Don't know/refused	5%

 

7b.	Do you view the statement, “The U.S. government only supports Israel because of Jewish money,” as antisemitic or not?

Yes, antisemitic	55%
No, not antisemitic	39%
Don't know/refused	6%

 

7c.	Do you view the statement, “American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to America,” as antisemitic or not?

Yes, antisemitic	50%
No, not antisemitic	43%
Don't know/refused	7%

 

8.	If a Jewish person or organization considered a statement or idea to be antisemitic, would that make you (more likely) to consider it antisemitic, (less likely), or would it make no difference to you?

More likely	25%
Less likely	7%
No difference	65%
Don't know/refused	3%

 

9a.	How much do you know about the Holocaust?

A lot	37%
Some	38%
Not much	14%
Nothing at all	10%

A lot/Some - 75% Not much/ Nothing at all - 24%

 

9b.	How important do you think it is for schools to teach middle and high school students the history of the Holocaust?

Very important	68%
Somewhat important	22%
Not too important	6%
Not at all important	2%
Don't know/refused	1%

Important - 90% Not Important - 8% Don't know/refused - 1%

 

View More:

• To see results from the State of Antisemitism in America 2020: AJC's Survey of American Jews, click here.

• To see how results from this survey compare to results from the State of Antisemitism in America 2020: AJC's Survey of American Jews, click here.

<< Download a copy of the 2020 results here >>