Texas police have arrested a 14-year-old Muslim boy who built a clock and brought it to school. The stunning display of ignorance and racism by Texas police and the teen’s school teacher has infuriated and saddened many after the news broke.
“I have lost my innocence. I can never look at the world in the same way,” the teenager — currently suspended from school — told The Independent.
People used #IStandWithAhmed to point out how blatantly racist the incident was:
#IStandWithAhmed When a white kid builds nuclear fusion reactor it's cool but when a Muslim builds a clock it's not pic.twitter.com/TFwfg1lUf4
— wiss. (@BUCKVBVRNES) September 16, 2015
White kids walk in public with weapons, brown kids are arrested for building clocks. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/DmgXjEexDF
— Aindiachaí hÉireann (@Irish_Atheist) September 16, 2015
when I was in high school a white kid made a rocket and TOLD PEOPLE it was a bomb and still wasn't arrested. #IStandWithAhmed
— farwz (@farwzaz) September 16, 2015
While some criticised the school system's response and utter stupidity:
Was the bomb squad called? Was the school evacuated? No. They knew this wasn't a real threat, they just wanted to put a kid in his place.
— dan sinker (@dansinker) September 16, 2015
So I see Texas has once again not only shown just how pathetic their education system is they did so with a side of racism. #IStandWithAhmed
— Brenden Dilley (@Hublife) September 16, 2015
Oh God No! SOMEONE PLACED A GIANT BOMB IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS TOWER! #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/FJZB4GpZtX
— Ol' QWERTY Bastard (@TheDiLLon1) September 16, 2015
And how the incident discourages young people of color not to participate in the technology and engineering:
"He vowed to never take another invention to school again" Heartbreaking. Perpetuating racism & stifling STEM in one blow. #IStandWithAhmed
— Sarah F. Henson (@sfhwrites) 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
