The poll was conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) as part of its latest edition of the quarterly National Speech Index. FIRE asked 1,000 Americans, "How much, if at all, does the following statement describe your thoughts: 'Words can be violence.'"
Pointing to the results, Chief Research Advisor Sean Stevens says this is "concerning" to a degree.
"Clearly, something like a true threat to someone is violence, but that's not really what we mean by this," says Stevens. "It's kind of a phrase we hear on college campuses that your words are violence."
About 45% of Americans say mostly or completely that this describes their thoughts.
"That's close to half, so I would say that's concerning."
There’s no doubt that words are powerful. They may be growing in power.
A related poll by FIRE shows free speech is a top priority for Americans, including those on college campuses.
“About 90% of people said it was either very or somewhat important, free speech to their vote, and that was higher than anything but economic issues essentially, which I find encouraging,” Stevens says.
He says lawmakers from both political parties are raising free speech concerns among voters.
In spite of the turmoil on college campuses over the past year, the future for free speech looks brighter now than even a year ago. That’s positive, Stevens says.
Free speech can have consequences
But with free speech comes a need for responsibility.
Democrats and women were most likely to agree words are violence, and Republicans and men were least likely to agree.
"We also found that, generationally, younger Americans, 18 to 24 and even 25 to 34 are a little more prone to agree with this, and also, Americans over 65 as well."
