Study Says BLM Demonstrations 93% Peaceful, 7% Riots; Coverage Differs

A report released Thursday said that 93% of 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations "have not engaged in violence or destructive activity,” with 7% involving "violent demonstrations" and "riots." The report describes BLM as "an overwhelmingly peaceful movement" with violence "limited to fewer than 220 locations." These findings were based on data collected by the US Crisis Monitor, a joint effort between the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) and Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative (BDI). Public opinion differs from the report's findings; according to a recent FiveThirtyEight poll cited by the study, “42 percent [of respondents] said most protesters are trying to incite violence or destroy property.” Coverage in left-rated outlets focused on the claim that 93% of demonstrations were peaceful. Coverage in right-rated outlets focused on the 7% of incidents labeled as riots, with some coverage only reporting total numbers of incidents. The study received relatively less coverage in center-rated outlets, and this coverage tended to focus on the 93% of peaceful protests.