Zogby Poll: 70% of Americans Oppose ‘South Park’ Censorship

J.J. Goldberg April 28, 2010

Pollster John Zogby of Zogby International reports on a new survey showing that 70% of Americans disagree with the Comedy Central Network decision to censor out references to Muhammad on “South Park.”

Unlike many other issues, opposition to Comedy Central’s decision is a bipartisan one. Clear majorities of those affiliated with both parties as well as unaffiliated adults disagree with the decision.

If you haven’t been following this case, Movieline.com has an excellent recap of the South Park-Muhammad dust-up. The quick version is that the cartoon show lampooned the objections to showing images of Muhammad in a recent episode by scripting the prophet in as part of a team of superheroes, but depicting him speaking from inside a U-Haul and standing in a bear costume so nobody gets in trouble. The show’s producers got a death threat anyway (or as the RevolutionMuslim Web site called it, a “warning”).

Movieline followed up today with a round-up of actions around the country in solidarity with the producers.

John Zogby, by the way, is the brother of James Zogby, probably the best-known Arab-American lobbyist in Washington, president of the Arab American Institute and a longtime friend of the Israeli and Palestinian peace movements. (Yes, Virginia, there is a Palestinian peace movement.) Doing this poll is just another small example of the way the Zogby brothers challenge bigotry whenever they can, even when it’s their own folks in the dock.

J.J. Goldberg is editor emeritus of the Forward, where he served as editor in chief for seven years (2000-2007).

The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Forward. Discover more perspectives in Opinion. To contact Opinion authors, email [email protected].

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