By Glynn Cosker
Managing Editor, In Homeland Security
No charges were brought against a 14-year-old Muslim boy in Irving, Texas, who was arrested for bringing his homemade electronic alarm clock to school on Monday. However, the incident raises questions about profiling and where to draw the line regarding what exactly is a dangerous item to bring to one’s place of education. People from all walks of life were quick to condemn the actions of the school and the local police, all the way up to President 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 (@POTUS) September 16, 2015
Mohamed was a member of his middle school’s robotics club and brought the device to MacArthur High School to show his new high school teacher what he was capable of. His new teacher reportedly told Mohamed that it was ‘nice’ but told him not to show it to any other teachers. The device’s alarm sounded during Mohamed’s English class and his English teacher thought it looked like a bomb, confiscated the device and sent Mohamed to the principal’s office – where he was met by five Irving police officers. Mohamed was subsequently arrested and handcuffed.
According to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth, the boy was questioned, fingerprinted and even subjected to having mugshots taken, even though he repeatedly told police officers that his homemade device was a simple clock and of no danger to anyone. Mohamed told NBC Dallas Fort Worth that his family’s last name was raised by police on multiple occasions. “I really don’t think it’s fair, because I brought something to school that wasn’t a threat to anyone. I didn’t do anything wrong. I just showed my teachers something and I end up being arrested later that day,” he said. Not surprisingly, reaction on social media was widespread with #IStandWithAhmed trending worldwide on Twitter as tweets on the subject quickly exceeded 100,000 overnight, while the hashtag #engineersforahmed is also gaining steam as almost universal condemnation of the arrest ensued. Along with President Obama, Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton tweeted “Assumptions and fear don’t keep us safe—they hold us back.”
#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
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
“Ahmed Mohamed’s avoidable ordeal raises serious concerns about racial profiling and the disciplinary system in Texas schools,” said Terri Burke of the ACLU in Texas. “Instead of encouraging his curiosity, intellect, and ability, the Irving ISD saw fit to throw handcuffs on a frightened 14 year-old Muslim boy wearing a NASA t-shirt and then remove him from school.”
The boy’s parents contend that their son was punished for his surname, appearance, and the incident’s proximity to the anniversary of the Sept. 11th 2001 terrorist attacks on America.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Chief Larry Boyd of the Irving Police Department explained the rationale behind Mohamed’s arrest:
“The student was taken into custody for possession of a hoax bomb,” stated Chief Boyd. “Under Texas law, a person is guilty of possessing a hoax bomb, if he possesses a device that is intended to cause anyone to be alarmed or a reaction of any type by law enforcement officers.”
The school suspended Mohamed for three days because of the incident. There is no news on whether the school will change its policy on banned items.
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