Updates: Obama Invites Ahmed to the White House, Social Media Explodes with Support

Outpourings of support for Ahmed Mohamed on social media today promptly followed the 14 year old’s arrest and suspension from school yesterday after the homemade digital clock he brought to class was mistaken for a bomb.

As of 10 a.m. this morning, over 400,000 Tweets were found with the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed, with sentiments ranging from serious discussions of racism, ignorance, and STEM education, to light-hearted pictures of solidarity featuring people bringing their own digital clocks to their schools and offices.

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The POTUS himself showed his support of Ahmed by promptly inviting him to the White House:

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 (@POTUS44) September 16, 2015

And there’s also talk of getting Ahmed to the quickly approaching World Maker Faire in New York:

Hey @timoreilly – let's get Ahmed – @IStandWithAhmed to @makerfaire NYC next week#IStandWithAhmed

— Graubart (@graubart) September 16, 2015

Before Maker Faire happens, Ahmed may be attending the Google Science Fair:

https://twitter.com/googlescifair/status/644219471469629440

Chris Hadfield also extended an invitation to Ahmed:

Hi @IStandWithAhmed ! I'd love you to join us for our science show Generator in Toronto on 28 Oct. There's a ticket waiting for you.

— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) September 16, 2015

Autodesk CEO Carl Bass invites Ahmed to come tinker at the Autodesk HQ:

Ahmed, don’t let this stop your creativity. Come hang out at Autodesk and we’ll make something new together. #IStandWithAhmed

— Carl Bass (@carlbass) September 16, 2015

And the Dallas Hackers have invited Ahmed to give a talk (this kid is about to have a very busy schedule!):

Ahmed, would you give us a Fire Talk about how you made your clock? @IStandWithAhmed #HelpAhmedMake #IStandWithAhmed

— Dallas Hackers (@Dallas_Hackers) September 16, 2015

Ahmed’s family Tweeted a picture this morning on their way to meet their lawyer:

Going to meet my lawyer. pic.twitter.com/YCxOOeOz3Z

— Ahmed Mohamed (@IStandWithAhmed) September 16, 2015

But as of 9 a.m. this morning, just one minute after the above picture was posted, the Irving Police Department announced that they have dropped and closed the case:

@IrvingPD says there is no evidence of intent to create harm. Case dropped and closed @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/1VqubCFcMg

— Ken Kalthoff (@KalthoffKen) September 16, 2015

They also released a picture of Ahmed’s homemade build:

While the resolution seems swift and appropriate, it hasn’t quelled the explosion of support for Ahmed. Hillary Clinton was quick to voice her stance:

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

As was Megan Smith, Chief Technical Officer of the United States:

#lookslikeanengineer /cc @IStandWithAhmed @whitehouseostp @POTUS https://t.co/4GQqCE4Ntd pic.twitter.com/TGvKWrsyz7

— Megan Smith -Archive (@USCTO44) September 16, 2015

As well as Mark Zuckerberg:

Pebble Tweeted this challenge to Ahmed’s school district:

So, @IrvingISD, we also make digital clocks—you gonna arrest us, too? Keep making, @IStandWithAhmed! http://t.co/OaP47h5GCF #IStandWithAhmed

— Pebble (@Pebble) September 16, 2015

And Twitter user femme_esq also had something else to say about Texas schools:

https://twitter.com/femme_esq/status/644158440932249600

Muslims and non-Muslims alike are showing solidarity by posing with their clocks:

In solidarity with @IStandWithAhmed CAIR-Chicago staff brought our clocks to work too. #IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/NK9CWhyfru

— CAIR-Chicago (@cairchicago) September 16, 2015

Watch out, it's a brown guy with a clock! #IStandWithAhmed @IStandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/8lzzrEakoi

— Tariq Khokhar (@tkb) September 16, 2015

While others are meme-ifying the racist subtext inherent in the fear of a brown boy with a homemade circuit:

If it looks like a clock, ticks like a clock, is a clock but your name is Mohamed then its a bomb #IstandWithAhmed pic.twitter.com/DP8rrYWyVZ

— TheMuslimLawyer (@faisalkutty) September 16, 2015

Despite concerned discussions of Islamaphobia, people are optimistic about Ahmed’s future:

I used to take circuit boards & electronics to school, even as the only brown kid. Now, my entire job is building a community of makers.

— anildash.com (@anildash) September 16, 2015

And of course, the Make: community has been quick to show our support of Ahmed as well. Words of wisdom, encouragement, and advice are coming in from all directions:

@make @IStandWithAhmed Don't let this discourage you, turn this around on their ignorance and help keep others from having to go through it.

— GraydonS (@GraydonScates) September 16, 2015

https://twitter.com/KrisStruble/status/644200479963131904

@make @IStandWithAhmed Try to be patient and forgive others for their ignorance. Then, go to MakerFaireNYC and find others who are like you

— Catalyst Corps (@CatalystMJ) September 16, 2015

@make @IStandWithAhmed Fill the void of ignorance with the light of knowledge and wisdom. Make great things, be yourself through hardship.

— 𝔇𝔞𝔳𝔦𝔡 𝔏 𝔑𝔬𝔯𝔯𝔦𝔰 ⛤🐉 (@DavidLNorris) September 16, 2015

https://twitter.com/nicegress/status/644208907414405121

The following comments are from our Facebook page:

Maria Elena Uriarte-Zygmunt puts it concisely:

Smh once more at humanity.

And she also adds an open letter to Ahmed:

I am proud of your enthusiasm. Seeking out praise for what you did was not wrong! Do not let your intelligence be squashed by those who are afraid of you. Their fear could teach you fear. So be open to compassion and know many of us support and love you. And are proud of you!!! Seek us out for we are here! “We are here!”

Allen Seymour reminds Irving’s school district and police:

We should be proud of young men like this.

Dennis San Vicente says:

The Maker and even larger DIY community have to rally and show support to Ahmed and other young creative & resourceful minds. Instead of extinguishing this heart, use it as a rallying point to bring more awareness, appreciation, and celebration [to] the next young creators in our world. Racial profiling and ignorance doubly sucks too.

Sean Walker’s words of encouragement:

Build on young man! BUILD ON!!

This post will be updated as events develop.