#IStandWithAhmed: Story of Muslim-American teenager arrested for bringing clock to school goes viral

[Fred Sanders]

"Islamophobia ran amok on Monday with the arrest and interrogation of 14 year old aspiring inventor, Ahmed Mohamed. Mohamed brought a homemade clock to school to impress his teacher at MacArthur High in Irving, Texas, but instead of encouraging words his teacher and principal called in the police. Mohamed was then interrogated without his parents present, handcuffed and hauled down to the local juvenile detention. Ahmed Mohamed is Muslim.

His teacher thought his clock was a bomb. After Mohamed’s arrest went viral, and by Tuesday night it spiraled into a tidal wave of support. His arrest made national news this morning and the rest is history. We’re watching it unfold today:

Ahmed Mohamed
Ahmed Mohamed – ‏@IStandWithAhmed

Thank you for your support! I really didn't think people would care about a muslim boy. #Thankyouforstandingwithme #IStandWithAhmed

7:13 AM - 16 Sep 2015
13.3K RETWEETS15.9K FAVORITES

- See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2015/09/istandwithahmed-teenager-bringing#sthash.yO2YJyqN.dpuf
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Watch out, it's a brown guy with a clock! @IStandWithAhmed
10:28 AM - 16 Sep 2015
3,658 Retweets 4,295 favourites

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Now top trending hashtag on twitter, Ahmed Mohamed’s story has gone international:

How #IStandWithAhmed took Twitter by storm

CHICAGO: A Muslim teen was led out of a Texas school in handcuffs after a teacher mistook his homemade digital clock for a bomb, prompting accusations of Islamophobia and an online backlash on Wednesday.

A photo of Ahmed Mohamed, 14, standing in handcuffs while wearing a t-shirt with the US space agency NASA's logo was retweeted thousands of times in a matter of hours and "#IStandWithAhmed" was the top trending hashtag on Twitter.

Among those voicing support for the boy was Hillary Clinton, who tweeted: "Assumptions and fear don't keep us safe-they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building."

Mohamed told The Dallas Morning News that he was just trying to impress his teachers when he brought the clock to MacArthur High school on Monday.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/How-IStandWithAhmed-took-Twitter-by-storm/articleshow/48991588.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=timesofindia

[rug]

2. BBC: no charges to be filed.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-34266389

Meanwhile, his family bought the press pizza.







Great family!

[Fred Sanders]

3. No charges for the police illegally detaining and interrogating a 14 year old is unacceptable.

Manufactured false fear and manufactured false hate is leading to these civil rights violations.

[rug]

4. There will doubtless be a 1983 lawsuit.

BTW, did you see Obama's tweet?

[underthematrix]

5. This is why PBO is the greatest President of all time

President Obama ✔ @POTUS
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.
Retweeted by Barack Obama
321,253 RETWEETS 305,268 FAVORITES

[Fred Sanders]

6. Here is a press release from DJ Patil, U.S. Chief Data Scientist:

The White House, Washington

Yesterday, a 14-year-old student named Ahmed Mohamed was arrested for bringing his engineering project (an electronic clock) to his high school. Officials mistook it for a bomb.

When I was growing up, my friends and I were fortunate to know how to use soldiering irons, circuit boards, and even a bit of duct tape when nothing else worked. We played, experimented, and learned through trial and error.

The best part? When I brought my work in, my teachers loved it. And that fed my desire to embrace science, engineering, and technology. That learning to play with technology -- that curiosity -- has helped me on every step of my journey so far.

That's why I’m so proud to see people across the country standing up for the innovation and intellectual curiosity that Ahmed has shown.

That includes the President.

Cool clock, Ahmed

And he's not the only one. Today, Dr. John Holdren -- the President's top science advisor -- reached out to Ahmed and personally invited him to come to join us at the White House Astronomy Night on October 19, where we'll bring together scientists, engineers, and visionaries from astronomy and the space industry, along with students and teachers. They'll share their experiences and spend an evening stargazing from the South Lawn.

We think Ahmed will fit right in.

That's because we think it's really important that kids with a passion for science and technology have the opportunities they need to reach for the stars (sometimes, that's literal).

It's why the President has prioritized broadening participation in science and technology to a more diverse pool of students.

It's why we regularly host kids from across the country at the White House Science Fair.

It's why we believe that the National Maker Faire is so important and why we are a nation of makers.

And it's why we're dedicated to telling the untold stories of some of the brightest minds in our country -- to inspire young people to follow in their footsteps.

Ahmed, you inspire us -- and we can't wait to meet you.

D.J.

DJ Patil
U.S. Chief Data Scientist
The White House
@DJ44

P.S. -- Don’t forget your NASA shirt. I’ll be wearing mine

The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

[catrose]

8. And if the family needs $$ so that Ahmed can go to Washington DC

I'd be glad to help make that happen.

[underthematrix]

10. I think they have money. But just your offer demonstrates

what America is all about. We celebrate our greatness through people.

[LiberalElite]

7. I have no doubt that

if this young man had had light skin and an Anglo name they would have seen the clock for the friggin' clock that it is.

[sheshe2]

9. KnR!