Heritage Action Launches Police Pledge; New Poll Shows 4 out of 5 Swing State Voters Oppose Defunding Police

Press Releases · Aug 18, 2020

Washington—Heritage Action for America today called on all elected officials to sign its newly launched Police Pledge, a pledge for citizens, lawmakers and candidates to stand with our nation’s law enforcement officers. Heritage Action also announced the results of a new battleground poll revealing overwhelming national support for our police officers.

“At a time when the Liberal Left is seeking to defund our police and launching attacks on our brave law enforcement officers, elected officials need to stand for safety and security,” said Jessica Anderson, Executive Director of Heritage Action. “That’s why we’re launching the Police Pledge: to put elected officials at all levels of government on the record in support for law enforcement. Americans across the country will not be bullied into submitting to the radical left, and it’s time elected officials stand up for law and order.”

The pledge will collect signatures from both lawmakers and citizens. As of August 18, over 6,000 individuals have signed the pledge. The pledge reads:

A lawful society—free from mob rule and violent insurrection—is not possible without Law Enforcement.

Police Officers have chosen a noble profession. They dedicate their lives to upholding the law and protecting the sacred rights of their fellow citizens. As a profession, they deserve support and respect.

I stand with America’s Police and pledge to oppose any bill, resolution, or movement to “Defund the Police.”

The pledge was launched as Heritage Action’s part of Fight for America, a new multi-faceted campaign from Heritage Action and The Heritage Foundation. Fight for America was announced at a law enforcement town hall in Urbandale, Iowa, on August 13 with Vice President Mike Pence, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, and Senator Joni Ernst. The new campaign will reach millions of individuals in key battleground states, energizing the grassroots to fight against extremism from the Left and encouraging them to support law enforcement.

As part of Fight for America, Heritage Action also today announced the results of a new round of polling. One survey question showed that 79% of respondents opposed defunding the police, with 69% “strongly opposing.” When asked if “we need to rethink policing,” 62% disagreed. From August 2-4, Heritage Action contacted 400 voters per state in Florida, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, for a total of 1600, with a total margin of error of 2.45%

More information on the pledge can be found at PolicePledge.com. More information on the polling can be found in a memorandum at Heritage Action’s website.