A majority of Americans, or 57 percent, see the Confederate flag as a symbol of Southern pride rather than racism, according to a CNN/ORC poll released on Thursday.
The survey involved 1,017 adult Americans and was conducted on June 26 to 28 in light of the mass shooting by Dylann Roof inside a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, last June 17.
Asked about the Confederate flag, 57 percent of the respondents said it symbolises Southern pride while 33 percent said they considered it as a symbol of racism.
Among blacks, 72 percent said the flag was a symbol of racism while 17 percent said it represented Southern pride. The results are reversed among whites with 66 percent saying it was Southern pride while 25 percent saying it's about racism.
A total of 41 percent of the respondents said the Charleston shooting should be considered an act of terrorism while 57 percent said it should not.
In addition, 87 percent said it should be considered a hate crime while 11 percent said it should not be considered a hate crime. Among blacks, 92 percent branded it as a hate crime; 86 percent of whites agreed.
A total of 40 percent said they support, while 57 percent said they oppose, redesigning state flags that feature Confederate emblems or symbols to remove references to the Confederancy. A total of 59 percent of black respondents support it while 35 percent of whites support such flag redesigning.
On the issue of removing Confederate flags from government property that is not part of a museum, 55 percent said they support it while 43 percent opposed. Among blacks, 73 percent agree while 50 percent of whites also support it.
A total of 68 percent opposed, while 29 percent support, renaming streets and highways named after Confederate leaders.
About 71 percent of the respondents opposed, while 26 percent supported, removing tributes to those who fought for the Confederacy from public places.
Fifty percent said they support private companies choosing not to sell or manufacture items featuring the Confederate flag while 47 percent opposed it.
