Texas Guv Says Ahmed Mohamed Shouldn’t Have Been Arrested

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott talks with local Republican Party members, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015 at Cowboy Chicken in McAllen, Texas. Abbott visited the Rio Grande Valley to talks about recent meeting with Mexican Preside... Texas Gov. Greg Abbott talks with local Republican Party members, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015 at Cowboy Chicken in McAllen, Texas. Abbott visited the Rio Grande Valley to talks about recent meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and his hope to improve security, infrastructure and the economy along the Texas and Mexico border. (Nathan Lambrecht/The Monitor via AP) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) gave his support Thursday to Ahmed Mohamed, the 14-year-old who was arrested Monday for bringing a homemade clock to his suburban Dallas high school.

“The last thing we want to do is put handcuffs on a kid unjustifiably,” Abbott said in the Dallas Morning News. “Just call this a tragic situation. It looks like the commitment to law enforcement may have gone too far and didn’t balance all the facts.”

Though the Sudanese-American teenager was not charged with a crime, Abbott said police must create an environment that protects civil rights.

“One of the most important things that law enforcement and school officials can do is to insure the safety and security of students in the classroom,” he said.

Abbott went on to praise Ahmed’s skills. The teen has received invitations to the White House, Facebook and support from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

This echoed the sentiment of a letter sent to parents by Irving Independent School District on behalf of MacArthur High School principal Daniel Cummings.

“Our school is cooperating fully with the ongoing police investigation, and we are handling the situation in accordance with the Irving ISD Student Code of Conduct and applicable laws. Please rest assured that we will always take necessary steps to keep our school as safe as possible,” Cummings wrote.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Too little, too late.

  2. so… just so I’m clear Principal Daniel Cummings…

    the Irving ISD Student Code of Conduct and applicable laws have prohibitions against student curiosity and initiative?

  3. How long before Barstool Palin denounces Gov. Abbott for stirring up racial hatred and hatred of police?

  4. Thank goodness Greg Abbott had enough time to gauge public opinion on this topic so his statement would reflect the prevailing side of popular opinion!

  5. And that’s the best this poor kid will get from any Republican politician, because to apologize for such a colossal level of stupidity would be unthinkable.

    “Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

22 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for jack_russell Avatar for willpower Avatar for blandsten Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for bluestatedon Avatar for grubber Avatar for cwazycajun Avatar for ryanp Avatar for condew Avatar for mantan Avatar for rooktoven Avatar for ottnott Avatar for truthdogg Avatar for texasswampbuggy Avatar for jcblues Avatar for bd2999 Avatar for benthere Avatar for cincypix Avatar for clauscph Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for extramoderate Avatar for tiowally

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: