[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE FERGUSON RIOTS: AN IMPORTANT EVENT THAT HAS CHANGED AMERICA, BY 
                             PHILLIP NGUYEN

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight from across the political spectrum that 
sheds a light on the concerns of our younger constituents. Giving voice 
to their priorities will hopefully instill a better sense of the 
importance of being an active participant in the political process. 
Many of the students have written short essays on a variety of topics 
and I am pleased to share them with my House colleagues.
  Phillip Nguyen attends Dawson High School in Pearland, Texas. The 
essay topic is: The Ferguson Riots: An Important Event That Has Changed 
America.

       The year of 2015 has been a time of immense societal 
     changes in America. The riots in Ferguson, Missouri exemplify 
     one of the many events that have sparked such changes in the 
     United States. From impacting the way society views minority 
     groups to representing the shift in which the citizens of 
     America demonstrate their protests, the Ferguson riots were a 
     horrific event to be remembered throughout our country that 
     has changed the way our society functions.
       Beginning with the sudden death of Michael Brown by a 
     police officer, the riots over the dispute of police 
     brutality have become a catalyst for the newfound ``black 
     lives matter'' movement. This event has sparked an immense 
     change in our country in that the citizens have become much 
     more focused upon the treatment of minorities (especially 
     African Americans) by police officers. In addition, a large 
     amount of citizens of all races have been advocating the 
     idealistic values of non-violence after witnessing the 
     incidents occurring during the riots (looting, fires, and 
     destruction of property). The media has even become extremely 
     centralized over the ongoing disputes between the black and 
     white communities as well as police brutality. Furthermore, 
     the event of the riots in Ferguson has incited a shift in the 
     functionality of the police system, such as requiring on duty 
     officers to have a working camera on their person. Not all 
     changes were positive, however. The riots were indicative of 
     the change in how Americans demonstrate their protests of 
     today in comparison to the past. For example, the riots 
     emerged from the protests pertaining to police brutality 
     towards African Americans quickly turned violent (by the 
     protestors), whereas in the past for American civil rights 
     movements, the protests were centralized over the idealism of 
     peace and non-violence and rarely have the protestors ever 
     turned violent.
       The Ferguson riots in Missouri were an event that shook the 
     country as a whole and sparked a plethora of social changes 
     in the American people. Moreover, it not only impacted the 
     way in which people have viewed the African American 
     community lately, but it has changed the way in which the 
     police force functions.

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