The father of the Texas Muslim teen arrested after bringing his homemade clock to school last year filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Monday.
The suit on behalf of 14-year-old Ahmed Mohamed accuses the Irving Independent School District of “a clear pattern of discrimination based upon race as well as discrimination based upon religion.” The lawsuit also names Ahmed’s former high school principal and the city of Irving as defendants following his September 2015 arrest and three-day suspension.
“I got a lot of hate. And I got a lot of support in the beginning but then again it’s the hate that sticks because some of it is so damaging. I get death threats. What did I ever do to someone to get death threats?” Ahmed said at a press conference, according to KTVT-TV.
He and his family moved to Qatar following the arrest and subsequent outcry, but they came back to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the summer. The episode provoked responses nationwide, with President Obama eventually inviting him to White House’s astronomy night event.
“Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House?” President Obama tweeted. “We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great.”
The suit accuses the school district of violating the 14th Amendment and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Irving Police Department of infringing on Ahmed’s Fourth Amendment rights.
Irving’s police chief later called Ahmed’s arrest on charges he made a hoax bomb a “mistake,” according to the suit. Prosecutors dropped the charges, yet the school district suspended him for three days anyway, the lawsuit said.
The suit cites records of disciplinary actions that showed racial disparities in the district and feelings of isolation and alienation among black students. A recent profanity-laced voicemail left for an Irving Muslim civil rights organization also displayed “a long and ugly history of race struggles” in the district, according to the lawsuit.
“Will we be faithful to our American principles of equality and freedom or will we let fear and hate prevail, the two biggest evils that will defeat our democracy?” the suit said. “History tells us that when we have stood tall and proud for equality and freedom, we have grown as a nation. When we have given in to fear and hate, we flounder.”
It doesn't name a specific monetary amount in its request for damages.
Irving Independent School District officials said in a statement to The Dallas Morning News that they are focused on preparing for the school year in the 35,000-student district.
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“Irving ISD continues to deny violating the student's rights and will respond to claims in accordance with court rules,” district officials said. “Because this matter is now in litigation, Irving ISD officials will have no further comment at this time.”
Irving officials told the newspaper in a statement that the city’s “top priority is to ensure the safety and security of its children and the entire community.”
“The city of Irving is prepared to vigorously defend itself and the justifiable actions it took in this matter,” city officials said. “The legal process will allow all facts to be revealed, and the city welcomes that opportunity.”
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