38% of Americans say achieving its goals is the top mark of a successful protest
Core finding
A June 2026 Verasight survey finds a plurality of Americans judge a protest by whether it accomplishes what it set out to do. Roughly four-in-ten (38%) name obtaining the protest's goals as the single most important marker of success, ahead of any other option.
More than a quarter (27%) instead point to getting policies the public wants enacted. Smaller shares cite reducing inequality or widening economic opportunity (14% each), and just 6% name gaining a leadership role.
Topline distribution
38% of Americans say achieving its goals is the top mark of a successful protest.
When considering whether a protest is successful or not, which characteristic do you believe is most important for a protest to be considered as successful?
n = 1,000 · Jun 21, 2026 · MoE ±3.2%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Jun 21, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.2% |
| Module | 1 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/mpsa26
When considering whether a protest is successful or not, which characteristic do you believe is most important for a protest to be considered as successful?
Cite this question
Verasight MPSA Omnibus Survey #2026-050, fielded June 21-21, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.