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#IStandWithAhmed: Obama and the internet rally around Texas student #IStandWithAhmed: Obama joins supporters rallying around Texas teen
(35 minutes later)
School officials in Texas are standing by their decision to detain Ahmed Mohamed for bringing a homemade clock to school, but the 14-year-old old has found some incredibly high-profile supporters, including the US president and the chief executive of Facebook.School officials in Texas are standing by their decision to detain Ahmed Mohamed for bringing a homemade clock to school, but the 14-year-old old has found some incredibly high-profile supporters, including the US president and the chief executive of Facebook.
Amed, from Irving, Texas, left school in handcuffs on Monday after his English teacher told him and the school’s principal that his homemade clock looked like a bomb. Ahmed, from Irving, Texas, left school in handcuffs on Monday after his English teacher told him and the school’s principal that his homemade clock looked like a bomb.
In the days since the incident, Ahmed – who was not charged but was suspended for three days – has become an overnight internet celebrity, attracting the attention of Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the rest of the internet community.In the days since the incident, Ahmed – who was not charged but was suspended for three days – has become an overnight internet celebrity, attracting the attention of Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the rest of the internet community.
The president tweeted:The president tweeted:
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.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.
Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook out of his Harvard dorm room, wrote on Facebook that “having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest. The future belongs to people like Ahmed.”Zuckerberg, who founded Facebook out of his Harvard dorm room, wrote on Facebook that “having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest. The future belongs to people like Ahmed.”
He then invited Ahmed to visit him at work.He then invited Ahmed to visit him at work.
“Ahmed, if you ever want to come by Facebook, I’d love to meet you. Keep building,” Zuckerberg wrote.“Ahmed, if you ever want to come by Facebook, I’d love to meet you. Keep building,” Zuckerberg wrote.
And Google invited him to its science fair, but only if he promised to bring his clock.And Google invited him to its science fair, but only if he promised to bring his clock.
Hey Ahmed- we're saving a seat for you at this weekend's Google Science Fair...want to come? Bring your clock! #IStandwithAhmedHey Ahmed- we're saving a seat for you at this weekend's Google Science Fair...want to come? Bring your clock! #IStandwithAhmed
According to Topsy, the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed has been tweeted more than 367,000 times in the past 24 hours and was trending worldwide on Twitter. Many used the hashtag to share their disgust about Ahmed’s treatment:According to Topsy, the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed has been tweeted more than 367,000 times in the past 24 hours and was trending worldwide on Twitter. Many used the hashtag to share their disgust about Ahmed’s treatment:
We cannot say we want more STEM graduates and then simultaneously arrest STEM enthusiasts #IAmAhmed #IStandWithAhmedWe cannot say we want more STEM graduates and then simultaneously arrest STEM enthusiasts #IAmAhmed #IStandWithAhmed
The look on this kid's face while he's wearing a NASA shirt and handcuffs should haunt all of us. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/7R02HZ0FnQThe look on this kid's face while he's wearing a NASA shirt and handcuffs should haunt all of us. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/7R02HZ0FnQ
Obama was not the only politician tweeting his support of the Texas teen. Hillary Clinton also joined in:Obama was not the only politician tweeting his support of the Texas teen. Hillary Clinton also joined in:
Assumptions and fear don't keep us safe—they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building. https://t.co/ywrlHUw3g1Assumptions and fear don't keep us safe—they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building. https://t.co/ywrlHUw3g1
Some people began sharing photos of themselves with clocks or watches to show solidarity:Some people began sharing photos of themselves with clocks or watches to show solidarity:
In solidarity with @IStandWithAhmed CAIR-Chicago staff brought our clocks to work too. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/NK9CWhyfruIn solidarity with @IStandWithAhmed CAIR-Chicago staff brought our clocks to work too. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/NK9CWhyfru
Brought my clock to work today. #IStandWithAhmed #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/h4Jr0siF1ABrought my clock to work today. #IStandWithAhmed #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/h4Jr0siF1A
Found this awesome old gif of me in my bomb making factory. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/MJJv5mclZBFound this awesome old gif of me in my bomb making factory. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/MJJv5mclZB
Watch out, it's a brown guy with a clock! #IStandWithAhmed @IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/8lzzrEakoiWatch out, it's a brown guy with a clock! #IStandWithAhmed @IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/8lzzrEakoi
Do I look dangerous yet? #IstandwithAhmed #ahmeding pic.twitter.com/15cAGd8Y7sDo I look dangerous yet? #IstandwithAhmed #ahmeding pic.twitter.com/15cAGd8Y7s
Among the messages of support were a few offers for Ahmed himself. Bobak Ferdowsi, also known as “Nasa Mohawk guy”, tweeted:Among the messages of support were a few offers for Ahmed himself. Bobak Ferdowsi, also known as “Nasa Mohawk guy”, tweeted:
I can't imagine if be working @nasa today if anything like this had ever happened to me. http://t.co/OajWwPXchB #IStandWithAhmedI can't imagine if be working @nasa today if anything like this had ever happened to me. http://t.co/OajWwPXchB #IStandWithAhmed
Hey Ahmed, give me a call in a couple years. We could always use smart, curious & creative people. https://t.co/02a4feMrk5Hey Ahmed, give me a call in a couple years. We could always use smart, curious & creative people. https://t.co/02a4feMrk5
Dr Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical astrophysicist at MIT, tweeted:Dr Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical astrophysicist at MIT, tweeted:
.@anildash @IStandWithAhmed we would love to have Ahmed visit us at MIT!.@anildash @IStandWithAhmed we would love to have Ahmed visit us at MIT!
Meanwhile, Ahmed and his family have set up a Twitter account, @IstandwithAhmed, to share updates, tweeting that he was on his way to meet with an attorney: Meanwhile, Ahmed and his family have set up a Twitter account, @IstandwithAhmed, to share updates, tweeting that he was on his way to meet with an attorney.
Thank you fellow supporters. We can ban together to stop this racial inequality and prevent this from happening again pic.twitter.com/fBlmckoafUThank you fellow supporters. We can ban together to stop this racial inequality and prevent this from happening again pic.twitter.com/fBlmckoafU
Going to meet my lawyer. pic.twitter.com/YCxOOeOz3ZGoing to meet my lawyer. pic.twitter.com/YCxOOeOz3Z