The study conducted by the Pew Research Center (https://www.pewresearch.org/2024/04/02/views-on-discrimination-in-our-society/) reveals that a majority of Americans believe that forms of discrimination are present in the United States, whether based on religion,  social status,  or ethnicity. Using a sample of more than 12,000 U.S. adults, including American Jews and Muslims, the survey highlights that about eight in 10 respondents perceive some form of discrimination against groups such as Hispanics, Muslims, Jews, Arabs and blacks.

However, perceptions of the extent of discrimination vary significantly among different ethnic and racial groups. While 28 percent of respondents believe there is “a lot of” discrimination against Hispanics, only 24 percent think the same about Asians. On the other hand, 44 percent of U.S. adults see a lot of discrimination against Muslims, slightly outnumbering blacks (40 percent), Jews (40 percent) and Arabs (39 percent).

Views on discrimination also reflect party affiliation, with Democrats more likely than Republicans to perceive high levels of discrimination against Muslims, Arabs, Hispanics and Asians. In addition, the survey examined perceptions regarding the war between Israel and Hamas, showing how different religious groups interpret the increase in discrimination since the beginning of the conflict.

The study is released against a backdrop of tumultuous racial and ethnic relations in the U.S., influenced by geopolitical events such as the Israel-Hamas conflict and the immigration crisis. These developments have sparked heated debates about support for different sides and resulted in significant increases in complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian discrimination and hatred in the U.S., according to a report in Latin Times (https://www.latintimes.com/this-how-widespread-americans-think-discrimination-toward-latinos-552680)

In addition, anti-immigrant rhetoric has been on the rise, exemplified by former President Donald Trump's intensification of anti-immigrant language since the start of his campaign. This context reflects a scenario of complex social and political tensions in the United States regarding ethnic, racial, and religious diversity.