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

Update: Here’s the latest press conference with Ahmed Mohamed:

Original opening:

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:

Using the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed support is pouring in from across the nation. Ahmed’s sisters set up a twitter account, @IStandWithAhmed and he tweeted out his thanks to fellow supports with the message

And:

We can ban together to stop this racial inequality and prevent this from happening again”.

Expect to see a lot more more clocks today!

Ordinary people are getting in on the action:

Events are moving so fast The Dallas Morning News has set up a liveblog covering events. This is going to be fun to watch, we love all the support this boy has received. As events unfold, let’s hope this becomes a transformational moment for our country. I’m likely not alone thinking maybe it’s time for Irving police and school officials to be interrogated. After all, in Texas, students are allowed to carry concealed handguns on college campuses. But if you’re Muslim, homemade clocks are off limits? Listen to Ahmed tell his story.

Now top trending hashtag on twitter, Ahmed Mohamed’s story has gone international. Here’s The Dallas Morning News new video from Family adjusting to Ahmed Mohamed’s sudden fame as police announce no charges for clock deemed ‘hoax bomb’:

Watch the explosion: Update: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director @  tweets a crowdfunding campaign has been set up for Ahmed’s scholarship, “The funds will be used to help Ahmed further his education and to help other curious students like him interested in STEM fields

Thanks to Gamal

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Reminds me of the time Star Simpson, an MIT EE student, wore a circuit prototype board with LEDs on in in a “Star” pattern when she went to Logan International to meet her boyfriend. Total freakout. Arrested for a bomb hoax and was nearly shot. She was formally charged. The whole thing was dumb overreaction probably because too many people watching too much television were under the impression that terrorist bombers put flashing lights on their sweater. You know, bombs always have flashing lights, maybe make some sort of noise, and stuff. Completely insane and indicates some serious lack of training.

I hope somebody interviews the wonderful teacher, this paragon of the Texas School system, and the principal. Perhaps Juanita Jean will. She’s already got an article up:

“High school in Irving, Texas, is not Intelligence Central. And you know that because a science teacher at that school didn’t know the difference between a digital clock and a bomb.”

“Welcome to Texas Ahmed. It’s About Time”

This would not have happened had this kid been white and Christian or Jewish. This is nothing but a racist act by a bunch of school officials who should have known better. Given the kid’s brilliance and interest in robotics, they should have realized this was simply a smart kid trying to enjoy something the school should be aware of. These are our future scientists and he might make his country proud one day. Shame on these Texans.

It seems he has now earned some friends in high places!

Alia Salem, the director of the North Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the arrest an egregious and inappropriate response. Her group is meeting with an attorney Wednesday morning to consider legal action.

“The fact remains this kid is a really bright student, an award-winning robotics inventor and tinkerer,” she told The Huffington Post. “They automatically jumped to a conclusion that I don’t believe they would’ve jumped to had he been ‘Jimmy.'” Huffingtonpost