Lux Claridge, a physics teacher at Emporia High School, was handcuffed after applauding several times in support of a speaker criticizing the proposed 1,000-acre Flint Hills Digital Campus.
Emporia city commission reportedly warned attendees before the meeting that clapping, snapping, and other demonstrations would be considered disruptions. After a final warning, police removed Claridge from the chamber as the meeting continued.
"I'm glad to be out—but this is an inconvenience, really," Claridge told KWCH after posting bail. "It's not really deterring me from speaking out or, I guess, clapping."
The Emporia Police Department said it remains committed to ensuring public meetings are conducted safely while respecting residents' rights to participate in the civic process. Claridge plans to plead not guilty when he appears in court in September.
“This isn’t going to hold up in court. Lux is going to fight them on that,” Claridge’s brother David Claridge told KWCH. “I’m looking at avenues to get these people recalled. This is insane to me.”
While the Emporia city commission ultimately approved the zoning changes needed for the project, AI data center projects have drawn public opposition in several states over issues including electricity consumption, water use, noise, and tax incentives. Developers argue the facilities are needed to support artificial intelligence services, while residents in some communities have questioned how the projects could affect local infrastructure and resources.
The arrest comes amid increasingly organized opposition to AI data centers across the United States.
