Nearly half of US blacks say were mistreated recently: Gallup poll

WASHINGTON: Nearly half or 46 per cent of blacks in the US reported being treated unfairly in the past 30 days before the period of June 7-July 1, found a Gallup poll.

Gallup on Monday said it asked about unfairness against blacks in five situations in the past decade, including discrimination while at work, while shopping, while in dealing with police, while at a bar or a restaurant, and while getting healthcare, Xinhua news agency reported.

Among the blacks who reported receiving unfair treatment, slightly less than half, or 45 per cent, listed only one of the situations.

As many as 25 per cent listed two, 20 per cent listed three, seven per cent mentioned four, and three per cent named all five, according to the poll.

In addition to asking US blacks to report on their own treatment, Gallup has often asked Americans more broadly how they perceive blacks being treated in their community and in specific situations such as shopping and while at work.

The assessment by blacks of how they were treated in their community showed little change, the poll discovered.

Meanwhile, whites have become more likely in the past two years than previously to perceive that blacks are being treated less fairly than whites in their community.

In the poll, both blacks at 67 per cent, and whites at 40 per cent, are more likely to perceive that blacks are treated unfairly in dealings with the police than in any of the other four situations.

In every situation, blacks are significantly more likely than whites to say that discrimination against blacks exists in their community, Gallup found.

At least 52 per cent of blacks and 17 per cent whites said blacks were treated less fairly on the job or at work, as well as in stores downtown or in the shopping mall, Gallup found. SOKOTO: US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday congratulated Nigeria on its recent military successes against Boko Haram while warning against the use of excessive force to fight extremists.

Speaking at a press conference in the northern city of Sokoto, Kerry praised Nigeria for reclaiming swathes of territory from Boko Haram and releasing thousands of hostages over the past year.

Nigeria has made “important progress”, Kerry said. “Nigeria and its neighbours are degrading Boko Haram’s capabilities.”

But Kerry cautioned against a heavy-handed response and emphasised respect for human rights.