Fewer Americans want companies to speak out on public policy: Survey

Just 4 in 10 Americans want companies to speak out on public policy, according to a new survey from Gallup.

A recent Bentley University and Gallup survey found 38 percent of Americans “think businesses, in general, should take a public stance on current events,” according to a new Gallup article.

A debate over diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives (DEI) at American institutions including colleges, government agencies and businesses has risen in recent years. DEI initiatives are usually aimed at promoting equity and fairness in institutions, especially when it comes to the issues of racism, homophobia and sexism.

The amount of Americans in favor of businesses putting forth “a public stance on current events” has dropped dramatically, according to the Gallup article. Only two years ago, this number was around 48 percent, and a year ago, it was at 41 percent.

Vice President Harris has recently faced attacks linking her to DEI programs as she has ascended to the Democratic presidential nomination. She would be the first Black woman, first woman and first person of South Asian descent to attain the presidency if she wins in November.

The Gallup and Bentley survey, conducted between April 29 and May 6, featured 5,835 people and had a margin of sampling error of 2.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level for response percentages near 50 percent and plus or minus 1.3 percentage points for response percentages near 10 and 90 percent.