Standing with Ahmed. Ahmed Mohamed, the 14-year-old student who was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school, is making headlines as he finishes out his suspension at home. The Irving, Texas resident has received support from President Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, and more boldfaced names since his story went viral on Wednesday, Sept. 16.
As previously reported, Mohamed was handcuffed and interrogated for bringing what authorities believed to be a “hoax bomb” to his ninth grade English class on Monday. He was brought to a juvenile detention center, was fingerprinted, and had to take a mugshot.
Mohamed later explained in a Dallas News video that he simply just loves to invent – a trait Obama admires about him. The Commander in Chief applauded the Muslim teen for his creativity via Twitter on Wednesday.
“Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science,” Obama, 54, wrote. “It’s what makes America great.”
Facebook co-founder Zuckerberg also shared his support. “You’ve probably seen the story about Ahmed, the 14 year old student in Texas who built a clock and was arrested when he took it to school. Having the skill and ambition to build something cool should lead to applause, not arrest,” the dad-to-be, 31, wrote on his official Facebook page.
He continued: “The future belongs to people like Ahmed. Ahmed, if you ever want to come by Facebook, I’d love to meet you. Keep building.”
Mohamed’s story has already reached millions, and became one of the top Twitter trends on Wednesday. Sophia Bush, Russell Simmons, Ariel Winter, Aziz Ansari, and many more have even been using the hashtag “IStandWithAhmed” amid the scandal.
Check out more reactions below:
The kid arrested for bringing a clock that he made to school is wearing a NASA shirt! It’s ridiculous #IStandwithAhmed
— Brian Bulock Olson (@BrianBulock) September 16, 2015
This really hurts me. It’s funny how it’s 2015 and people still have to go through this. #IStandWithAhmed
— Rawani (@RaWomentality) September 16, 2015
So proud of people on Twitter trending #IStandWithAhmed. I read the story earlier and thought it would be pushed under the rug. Guess not.
— Nikhil (@thenikhilkapur) September 16, 2015
#IStandWithAhmed because I don’t ever want any of my students to be told that their imagination is criminal.
— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) September 16, 2015
Having the skill and ambition to build something cool, at such a young age, should lead to applause not arrest. #IStandWithAhmed
— Gregory Pizarro Jr. (@gregpizarrojr) September 16, 2015
I don’t know how to build a clock. We need kids like Ahmed around to build clocks for us. #IStandWithAhmed
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) 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
The look on that poor kid’s face as he was cuffed. #IStandWithAhmed
— Mara Wilson (@MaraWritesStuff) September 16, 2015
When a kid who loves robotics builds a clock & wants to show his classmates, we should celebrate him. Not arrest him. #IStandWithAhmed
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) 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
