Ahmed Mohamed is the 14-year old inventor who was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to school. The young man is from Irving, Texas, and he was just beginning his freshman year at a new school. He was well-known at his middle school for his inventive mind and skill with electronics. Thinking it would help him fit in, he built a clock and brought it to school.
His teacher wasn’t sure what the invention was, and didn’t believe Ahmed when he explained that it was a clock. Displaying a large amount of Islamophobia, she incorrectly assumed it was a bomb, and called the police. As a parent, it’s rather alarming that this particular school doesn’t immediately evacuate the premises when faced with a bomb scare.
Perhaps this incident will spark a revision of the school’s bomb-scare policy. In any event, the police who escorted Ahmed off campus in handcuffs also didn’t believe it was a clock, despite his insistence.
The mayor of Irving has publicly applauded the actions of the police and school officials, and Ahmed remains suspended from school. Despite the charges against Ahmed being dropped, the police still have his clock.
The story does have a nice ending. Moments after the story broke on twitter, users all over the world were tweeting their support for Ahmed using the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed. Some tweeted pictures of themselves with clocks, others invited Ahmed to visit research facilities, schools and other organizations, others still offered him internships and scholarships. Even President Obama tweeted out an invite.
Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) September 16, 2015
Watch out, it's a brown guy with a clock! #IStandWithAhmed @IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/8lzzrEakoi
— Tariq Khokhar (@tkb) September 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/644183571347824641
Few days ago a non-muslim threatened to bring down a plane even then no one called her terrorist #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/o1NFgrLjjR
— Adnan Ali ➊➋➌ (@adnan04ar01) September 16, 2015
If this looks like a bomb to you, then please … don't touch technology. You are a stupid person. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/Ur4pSQhovd
— The Call is Coming from Inside the Nash (@Nash076) September 16, 2015
https://twitter.com/shannonwoodward/status/644181586695471104
https://twitter.com/RealAvocadoFact/status/644185895998910464
Aww look at those cute little white kids with guns. Wait, is that a Muslim boy with a CLOCK?! RUN! #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/Nsce7Z8kpk
— Nikki Gloudeman (@NikkiGloudeman) September 16, 2015
#IStandWithAhmed — stay strong little brother. you are a genius and we all support your incredible passion for innovation + technology.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) September 16, 2015
#IStandWithAhmed cause I was once a brown kid in the south too. Plus sure he'll lead an amazing life & I'm trying to get in the bio pic game
— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) September 16, 2015
Ahmed is handling the ordeal with an incredible amount of class, saying:
I was scared at the moment, but now I feel really happy. I’m getting all this support from all over the world. And the support isn’t just for me but for everyone who has been through this. I will fight for you if you can’t stand up for yourself.
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