‘They thought it was a bomb': 9th-grader arrested after bringing a home-built clock to school
By: Tristin Manus 8th
Summary: Ahmed Mohamed,14 year-old intelligent young boy was arrested on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Ahmed brought a home-made clock to school to show to his teachers. He thought the reactions were going to be good but instead he was arrested. Ahmed has a love for science and builds radios and other amazing things. On Sunday he quickly assembled a homemade clock to bring to class that following Wednesday. The clock kept beeping in class which annoyed the teacher. He then showed the teacher the digital clock and the teacher replied ,“it looks like a bomb,” and Ahmed replied with, ‘It doesn’t look like a bomb to me,' which it obviously didn't look like a bomb. The English teacher kept the clock, and during sixth period, Ahmed was pulled out of class by the principal and a police officer. They took him to a room where four other officers were waiting. One police officer even said, “That’s who I thought it was,”. The police wouldn't let Ahmed even call his father and kept interrogating him asking him stupid questions even though Ahmed kept telling them that it is just a clock. But the police insisted on their own opinions like it 'looks' like a movie bomb. Ahmed was then taken to juvenile detention in handcuffs even though the police already knew that it wasn't a bomb but a "hoax bomb".
Analysis: Islamophobia is still alive and brewing in America. Just because Ahmed was Muslim and an intelligent boy who loves science was persecuted because of his skin tone and last name. This makes me furious with America. Ahmed has so much support at the moment even a hashtag, #IStandWithAhmed and support from President Obama and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and more people including public support. I wish America could be a better place and not have stereotypes against people who are trying to excel but are being step back because of racism. If America can fix this ever-growing problem of racism I truly believe that America can be an amazing place.
Matthew Homsher 9th- I'm upset that something like that could happen in the United States. It's ridiculous that he was arrested. It was a clock. Anybody who can build something like that should be rewarded, not arrested.
ReplyDeleteRacism in America is a terrible problem right now. This makes me sad
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible that stories like this prove that unfortunately, islamaphobia is still alive today, but some people decide not to acknowledge it (Bella Di Fazio pd:8)
ReplyDelete