#IStandWithAhmed is trending nationwide after the wrongful arrest of the 14-year-old boy pictured above in Texas. Ahmed Mohamed was arrested after building a clock and bringing it to school to show one of his teachers. Apparently, some of his teachers believed it was a bomb, and they called the police on the young man. He was arrested and taking to a juvenile detention center where he was interrogated without his parents. Ahmed said he didn’t feel human.
A Muslim boy was arrested at school in TX because teachers thought his homemade clock was a bomb. #IStandWithAhmedhttps://t.co/tZGJFBWYrs
— AJ+ (@ajplus) September 16, 2015
Ahmed is a Muslim, and it seems like that’s all his teachers in the “oh so great” state Texas see him as. Although, it doesn’t make sense that Ahmed being Muslim automatically means “he has a bomb”. When people see a White man they don’t automatically think “he’s going to shoot up something”. By the way Texas Police, we’re still waiting to know what happened to Sandra Bland.
Anyways, this is just another situation in America that shows that this alleged “progress” we’ve made in America hasn’t really brought the country far. We’re still fighting for Black Lives to Matter. We’re still fighting for Women to have equal pay. And now we’re fighting for Muslim kids to be able to express their interest in engineering and not be labeled a terrorist (that’s essentially what they did).
The controversy has brought out many supporters including The President of the United States, Barack Obama.
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
Even the Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton weighed in:
Assumptions and fear don't keep us safe—they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building. https://t.co/ywrlHUw3g1
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2015
Many social media users have weighed in as well. Shout out to the amazing people that can acknowledge that these things most likely wouldn’t happen to them.
I made this (Temp logger) and brought it to school. Not arrested. Behold my shiny white privilege! #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/CKaz6MG1Mf
— AshleyB (@AshleyBWho) September 16, 2015
The school issued a letter yesterday saying: “While we do not have any threats to our school community, we want you to be aware that the Irving Police Department responded to a suspicious-looking item on campus yesterday. We are pleased to report that after the police department’s assessment, the item discovered at school did not pose a threat to your child’s safety. Our school is cooperating fully with the ongoing police investigation, and we are handling the situation in accordance with the Irving ISD Student Code of Conduct and applicable laws. Please rest assured that we will always take necessary steps to keep our school as safe as possible.”