According to a new study done by the Washington Post and the University of Maryland, one in every three Americans believes that violent action against the state is sometimes justified.

The poll found that 40% of Republicans supported violent activities against the government, compared to 23% of Democrats and 41% of independents.

In general, the share of people who believe violence against the government is sometimes justifiable has risen in recent years.

Overall, 62% of those polled feel violence is never justifiable, while the remaining 40% were undecided or claimed they did not believe violence was justified in any way.

The poll, which took place between Dec. 17 and 19, covered 1,101 adults and had a margin of error of four percentage points.

It came just weeks before the first anniversary of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, when a crowd of pro-Trump protestors stormed the building to disrupt a Congressional session convened to formally declare Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.

Rioters battled with police and vandalized property. Several people were killed and dozens were injured in the tragedy.

Within months following the attack, four police officers who reacted to it committed suicide. Hundreds of demonstrators who took part in the attack have been arrested and charged.

Image Credit: Getty

You were reading: One-third of Americans Say Violence Against State ‘Sometimes Justified’