Black Americans more concerned about civil rights

U.S. black Americans say more civil rights laws are needed to reduce discrimination against blacks in the wake of George Zimmerman's acquittal, a poll found. In an August poll, Gallup found 61 percent of black respondents said there is a need for more civil rights laws, up from 53 percent before Zimmerman was acquitted July 13 of murder in Florida in the death of Trayvon Martin, 17. A majority of black respondents -- 63 percent -- also said they think the government should have a "major role" in improving the social and economic position of blacks and other minority groups in the United States. Meanwhile, white and Hispanic Americans responded differently to the earlier poll: 17 percent of whites and 46 percent of Hispanics said they feel new civil rights laws are needed to combat discrimination against blacks. Some 22 percent of white respondents said they think the government should have a major role in helping minorities, while 60 percent of Hispanics said the same. Gallup questioned 1,001 blacks from Aug. 9-22 for the recent poll, which has a margin of error 4 percentage points. From July 10-14, Gallup questioned 2,149 whites, 1,010 blacks and 1,000 Hispanics. That poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.