Emotions ran high as people attended a panel discussion with Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins and Dr. Angela Ards Tuesday evening in Storey Hall.

Michael Brown, 18, was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer on Aug. 9. Since then, the country has watched as controversy, riots, and looting have erupted in the city.

Several SMU organizations teamed up to host the event. They hoped to give students a chance to share opinions and discuss Dallas’ own issues of race. Tensions ran high as students posed their questions. Some students even screamed their questions at D.A. Watkins.

Tyrell Russell, a junior and the Political Action Chair for the Association of Black Students, was excited to get D.A. Watkins’ perspective. “Ferguson has been a topic of much debate in recent weeks,” he said. “This event will hopefully bring awareness that Michael Brown is one of many victims of our troubled system.”

To join the continuing debate, contact The Black Law Students Association,the American Constitution Society, or the Association of Black Students for more information.