● Overall, nearly one-quarter (23%) of Americans say it is “definitely” or “probably” justified to ever engage in violent protest against the government. 10% say it is “definitely” or “probably” justified to engage in violent protest against the government right now. 

● Men, younger Americans, and ideologues (liberals and conservatives) are more likely than women, older Americans, and ideological moderates to say it is “definitely” or “probably” justified to ever engage in violent protest against the government. 

● Although the gap between Democrats and Republicans overall is relatively small (Republicans are just 4 points more likely than Democrats to agree that violent protest can be justifiable), Democratic men are much less likely to say violent protest is ever justifiable than Republican men and Independent men (23% versus 32%). Similarly, Democratic men are significantly less likely than Republican and Independent men to say violent protest against the government is justifiable right now. 

● Republicans and ideological conservatives are most likely to say that violent protest against the government is justifiable right now. 

● Among those who say it is justified to engage in violent protest against the government, most (two-thirds) say that the federal government is an appropriate target. Smaller shares think that their own state’s government (35%), another state’s government (20%), or local government (21%) are justifiable targets for violent protest. 

● Among those who say violent protest is justified right now, Republicans are more likely to target the federal government than are Democrats (71% versus 62%) while more Democrats say violence against their state’s government is justified (43% versus 26%). Independents are more likely than Republicans to say violent protest against their state’s government is justified (38% versus 26%) and are more likely than both groups of partisans to say violence against their local government is warranted. 

● Among Republicans who say violent protest against the government is currently justified, a larger share (37%) say violent protest against their state’s government is justified when that state is controlled by a Democratic governor than those who say it is justified in state’s controlled by a governor from their own party (18%).