#IStandWithAhmed Hashtag Protests Arrest of 9th Grader Who Brought Clock to School

By Nolan Feeney

Updated: September 16, 2015 3:51 PM ET

Twitter users are coming to the defense of Ahmed Mohamed, a Muslim teenager in Texas who was arrested earlier this week after a teacher thought the homemade clock he brought to school resembled a bomb. The #IStandWithAhmed hashtag trended on Twitter on Wednesday as people accused Mohamed’s teachers and police officers of profiling the 9th grader based on his name and skin color. “He just wants to invent good things for mankind,” his father told The Dallas Morning News. “But because his name is Mohamed and because of Sept. 11, I think my son got mistreated.”

The #IStandWithAhmed tweets say a white student in Mohamed’s situation wouldn’t have faced the same treatment. They also encourage children like Mohamed, a robotics enthusiast who makes his own radios and brought the clock to show his engineering teacher, to continue their interest in science despite the Islamophobia, racism or sexism they may encounter in the field.

Mohamed now has his own Twitter account inspired by the hashtag, @IStandWithAhmed. “Thank you for your support!” he tweeted Wednesday. “I really didn’t think people would care about a Muslim boy.”

Here’s a round-up of some of the #IStandWithAhmed tweets and social media postings:

Top 10 Tech Product Designs of 2014

<strong>Nest</strong>

Acquired by Google in Jan. 2014, Nest Labs wants to turn your home into a smart device. The home automation system includes Internet-connected smoke detectors and thermostats, which have screens and chic, round designs — a huge design boost for devices that haven't really changed in recent decades.

Nest Acquired by Google in Jan. 2014, Nest Labs wants to turn your home into a smart device. The home automation system includes Internet-connected smoke detectors and thermostats, which have screens and chic, round designs — a huge design boost for devices that haven't really changed in recent decades.

Aya Brackett—Nest

<strong>DJI Inspire 1
</strong>

The latest DJI quadcopter retains the simple style that's made their drones so popular, but adds 4K video capability — and the ability to transmit the HD video wirelessly to an on-the-ground devices. A new ground-facing camera also allows Inspire 1 to fly steadily to keep the video footage clean.

DJI Inspire 1 The latest DJI quadcopter retains the simple style that's made their drones so popular, but adds 4K video capability — and the ability to transmit the HD video wirelessly to an on-the-ground devices. A new ground-facing camera also allows Inspire 1 to fly steadily to keep the video footage clean.

DJI

<strong>iPhone 6 and 6 Plus</strong>

Bigger is better, or so the critics cried, calling for Apple to make a supersized phone. That was before Apple quieted them with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus in September, the company’s largest iPhone ever. With an alluring 5.5-inch display that makes it feel something like a portable iPad, the phone is is a challenge to Samsung’s larger models. Along with a powerful 8-megapixel camera and longer battery life, the phone is more a statement than an answer.

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Bigger is better, or so the critics cried, calling for Apple to make a supersized phone. That was before Apple quieted them with the release of the iPhone 6 Plus in September, the company’s largest iPhone ever. With an alluring 5.5-inch display that makes it feel something like a portable iPad, the phone is is a challenge to Samsung’s larger models. Along with a powerful 8-megapixel camera and longer battery life, the phone is more a statement than an answer.

Apple

<strong>Osmo Tangram</strong>

Tired of seeing your kids staring at screens like zombies? This iPad game brings virtual play to life. A reflector equipped with artificial intelligence snaps over your iPad's camera and can sense when objects are moving (or being drawn) on a pad in front of it. <a href="https://www.playosmo.com/indexB.html?utm_expid=85506917-11.mIgqowhiR_y8Ms-6ToImHQ.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F">Osmo</a> comes with three games, all of which promote creativity and—because it’s best played in groups—social intelligence. The best way to understand how Osmo works is by watching the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbwIJMz9PAQ">video</a> of kids who have never played with the device before testing it out for the first time.

Osmo Tangram Tired of seeing your kids staring at screens like zombies? This iPad game brings virtual play to life. A reflector equipped with artificial intelligence snaps over your iPad's camera and can sense when objects are moving (or being drawn) on a pad in front of it. Osmo comes with three games, all of which promote creativity and—because it’s best played in groups—social intelligence. The best way to understand how Osmo works is by watching the video of kids who have never played with the device before testing it out for the first time.

Osmo

<strong>Tesla 2014 Model S</strong>

Tesla 2014 Model S has been praised both for its luxury feel and high-tech interior. The electric car offers instantaneous acceleration from a stop, a function very few other cars on the market provide.

Tesla 2014 Model S Tesla 2014 Model S has been praised both for its luxury feel and high-tech interior. The electric car offers instantaneous acceleration from a stop, a function very few other cars on the market provide.

Tesla

<strong>Jawbone's UP3 Wristband</strong>

Depending on your view, Jawbone is on the road to making us all super fit athletes or brutally efficient cyborgs who operate by data alone. How many minutes of REM sleep did I get last night? What’s the difference between my heart rate while resting and during a workout? How hydrated am I? How many calories did I burn on my last run? Jawbone UP3 answers all those questions better than any other Jawbone did before. The $179 wearable fits on your wrist and comes in black and silver.

Jawbone's UP3 Wristband Depending on your view, Jawbone is on the road to making us all super fit athletes or brutally efficient cyborgs who operate by data alone. How many minutes of REM sleep did I get last night? What’s the difference between my heart rate while resting and during a workout? How hydrated am I? How many calories did I burn on my last run? Jawbone UP3 answers all those questions better than any other Jawbone did before. The $179 wearable fits on your wrist and comes in black and silver.

Jawbone

<strong>Square Stand
</strong>
The iPad holder and credit card reader launched last year with the goal of transforming an iPad into a point-of-sale. The sleek, white stand also offers an enhanced credit card reader, and can be adapted to include a cash register.

Square Stand The iPad holder and credit card reader launched last year with the goal of transforming an iPad into a point-of-sale. The sleek, white stand also offers an enhanced credit card reader, and can be adapted to include a cash register.

Square

<strong>Nerf Rebelle Rapid Red Blaster</strong>

Last year, Nerf decided to even the battlefield and create a new line of guns, arrows and crossbows specifically for girls. The resulting <a href="http://www.hasbro.com/rebelle/en_us/">Nerf Rebelle</a> line takes a cue from the success of <i>The Hunger Games</i>: The box is covered with tweens styled like that series' hero, Katniss Everdeen.

Nerf Rebelle Rapid Red Blaster Last year, Nerf decided to even the battlefield and create a new line of guns, arrows and crossbows specifically for girls. The resulting Nerf Rebelle line takes a cue from the success of The Hunger Games: The box is covered with tweens styled like that series' hero, Katniss Everdeen.

Hasbro

<strong>Oculus Rift Crescent Bay
</strong>

The latest Oculus Rift prototype, Crescent Bay, marks one step further before the commercial release of the virtual reality handset. Crescent Bay features upgrades like 360-degree head tracking, a lighter weight, and high-quality audio. Lucky participants in the demos recalled the mind-boggling immersion in the scenes they were watching. The consumer version, Oculus Rift, is expected to launch as early as April 2015.

Oculus Rift Crescent Bay The latest Oculus Rift prototype, Crescent Bay, marks one step further before the commercial release of the virtual reality handset. Crescent Bay features upgrades like 360-degree head tracking, a lighter weight, and high-quality audio. Lucky participants in the demos recalled the mind-boggling immersion in the scenes they were watching. The consumer version, Oculus Rift, is expected to launch as early as April 2015.

Oculus VR

<strong>Qualcomm WiPower
</strong>

Sick of tangled phone charging cables? Qualcomm WiPower allows you to power up your phone without plugging it in — a function that, to most people, is basically magic. The wireless charging pad eliminates the fuss of power chords, while also allowing you to turn everyday furniture like tables and chairs into charging surfaces.

Qualcomm WiPower Sick of tangled phone charging cables? Qualcomm WiPower allows you to power up your phone without plugging it in — a function that, to most people, is basically magic. The wireless charging pad eliminates the fuss of power chords, while also allowing you to turn everyday furniture like tables and chairs into charging surfaces.

Qualcomm

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Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com.

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