Teacher arrested for clapping in support of speaker opposing data center

[midian182]

WTF?! A lot of people don't like data centers – you could go as far as saying that they hate them. But you might want to be careful how you express these feelings. Just ask the teacher who was recently arrested for clapping in support of an anti-data-center speaker.

There have been claims that pushback against data centers hurts the economy and national security, and that it's even a campaign fueled by China. Fox News compared it to protesting against tank and plane factories during World War II.

The situation has come under the spotlight again after high school physics teacher Lux Claridge was carried out of a public meeting in Lyon County, Kansas, last week when he clapped to show his support of an impassioned speech opposing a proposed gigawatt-scale facility – the 1,000-acre Flint Hills Digital Campus data center.

At the meeting, which was held by the Emporia City Commission and focused on zoning to enable construction of the data center, attendees were warned against "clapping" and "snapping."

After one speaker finished her speech with the line "we are the people, and the table belongs to us," Claridge clapped his hands five or six times, which hardly seems like it would incite a riot.

The presiding officer was not pleased by Claridge's shocking outburst, telling police chief Ed Owens, "Chief, will you take the next person out that claps or anything. Thank you."

The video shows Claridge saying that he has the right to clap, prompting the police to swarm him. He then says he'll have to be "dragged" out, though he ends up being carried out in handcuffs.

– Jason Bassler (@JasonBassler1) July 26, 2026

After being arrested and charged, Claridge told local channel KWCH that he was "glad to be out – but this is an inconvenience, really. It's not really deterring me from speaking out or I guess, clapping."

The Emporia Police Department told KWCH it "remains committed to ensuring public meetings are conducted safely and in an orderly manner, while also respecting the rights of all citizens to participate in the civic process."

The First Amendment Coalition writes that a city council may not treat all applause as disruptive by definition. Clapping can justify removal only when it actually disturbs or impedes the meeting. Brief, non-disruptive applause during public comment may therefore be protected expression, particularly if the council allows clapping for views or events it supports but suppresses applause for criticism. It stresses that "actual disruption means actual disruption," meaning officials cannot simply label harmless clapping a breach of decorum.

It seems the protest, if you can call it that, had no effect. The city approved the zoning change required for construction of the data center.

Permalink to story:

Teacher arrested for clapping in support of speaker opposing data center

 

[dangh]

Oh, another China news.
oh wait... ;D

but really. wth is going on with formerly 'free' country? Or at least he wasn't whipped on the central square? It seems like it is land of the free, and free starts at 10 millions on account, the rest is just necessity taking place of former slaves. Not good at all.

 

[Taroo]

So it begins...

 

[jwdR311]

It's time to bring back tar and feathers.

Liberals can tar and feather the conservative representatives, Conservatives can tar and feather the liberals, and maybe, just maybe the two sides will start representing their constituents again.

 

[NumberNine]

The video shows Claridge saying that he has the right to clap, prompting the police to swarm him.

This is borderline Mel Brooks comedy.
"Hey boys, he's got rights! Get em!"

 

[RudyBob]

I think this is great. This teacher taught consequences. When told not to do something don't do it or there will be consequences. Finally a teacher teaching. Nice cuffs, BTW

 

[JamesBlond]

I see where this is going "Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap"....your going to jail

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Oh, another China news.
oh wait... ;D

but really. wth is going on with formerly 'free' country? Or at least he wasn't whipped on the central square? It seems like it is land of the free, and free starts at 10 millions on account, the rest is just necessity taking place of former slaves. Not good at all.

Well what has happened is that the police state has been allowed to violate people's rights for decades, and when this kind of thing happens, they're crickets. But you arrest a felon ODing on drugs, we will burn the city down.

Where are the protests? The demands to defund the police? Conservative communities need to start taking some lessons from Liberals on how to deal with power overreach.

 

[onebignerd]

The U.S is on the express train to totalitarian rule!! RIP land of the free.

 

[pnntmp]

A better title would be "Woke id1ot disrupts a meeting".

What's really scary is that the woke id1ot is a teacher. He should be fired immediately.

 

[starfalls]

Lol, America is not a free country. Only an American would think so. Everyone else sees whats going on inside China 2.0.

 

[ActualViking]

Land of the free...

 

[ActualViking]

A better title would be "Woke id1ot disrupts a meeting".

What's really scary is that the woke id1ot is a teacher. He should be fired immediately.

Your post is a big illustration of what is wrong in the US.

You disagree with someone, so the is a id1ot and should be fired. That Donald communicates like that doesn't make it something to replicate, in fact his name calling and disrespecting of those that don't kiss his ring is a warning.

 

[pnntmp]

Your post is a big illustration of what is wrong in the US.

You disagree with someone, so the is a id1ot and should be fired. That Donald communicates like that doesn't make it something to replicate, in fact his name calling and disrespecting of those that don't kiss his ring is a warning.

I disagree with people who disrupt events and behave like baboons for the purposes of virtue signalling. Of course such a person can't be a teacher. I don't mind him working at McDonalds, as long as he doesn't harass everyone who doesn't order vegan burgers.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

I disagree with people who disrupt events and behave like baboons for the purposes of virtue signalling. Of course such a person can't be a teacher. I don't mind him working at McDonalds, as long as he doesn't harass everyone who doesn't order vegan burgers.

A clap is disruptive now?

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

Title: Teacher arrested for clapping
Article: The teacher was not arrested for clapping

This article could be way better written. For one, only small clips are shown (mostly after the fact). In addition, the article cited a made up reason that moderator asked for no disruptions. The article said the reason was because he opposed the data center. The real reason was there were lots of people who wanted to speak and there was only 2 minutes of time for each in order to get through everyone (not mentioned at all by the author). As a result, disruptions extend the time of the meeting because speakers have to wait for silence.

In the end, he was arrested while arguing back with the moderator while a speaker was waiting in front of the microphone to be able to speak (infringing on her right to free speech). I would guess he had been doing this the whole meeting but we can't tell because the author didn't gather additional context.

In addition the article fails to point out that others were free to use visual cues to show support (many people were waving their hands at the same time), and it fails to point out that he was the only person clapping.

This is borderline Mel Brooks comedy.
"Hey boys, he's got rights! Get em!"

Except it's not true. I watched the video and he wasn't swarmed lol. There were 2 officers in plain clothing previously standing there, and 2 officers from nearby who walked 5-10 feet to him. What's more notable about the situation is that when officers put handcuffs on him and lifted him off his chair, he went limp and fell on the floor.

 

[Hexic]

“It’s okay if I ignore policies and procedures because I feel that what I’m supporting is right.”

 

[Hexic]

Title: Teacher arrested for clapping
Article: The teacher was not arrested for clapping

This article could be way better written. For one, only small clips are shown (mostly after the fact). In addition, the article cited a made up reason that moderator asked for no disruptions. The article said the reason was because he opposed the data center. The real reason was there were lots of people who wanted to speak and there was only 2 minutes of time for each in order to get through everyone (not mentioned at all by the author). As a result, disruptions extend the time of the meeting because speakers have to wait for silence.

In the end, he was arrested while arguing back with the moderator while a speaker was waiting in front of the microphone to be able to speak (infringing on her right to free speech). I would guess he had been doing this the whole meeting but we can't tell because the author didn't gather additional context.

In addition the article fails to point out that others were free to use visual cues to show support (many people were waving their hands at the same time), and it fails to point out that he was the only person clapping.

Except it's not true. I watched the video and he wasn't swarmed lol. There were 2 officers in plain clothing previously standing there, and 2 officers from nearby who walked 5-10 feet to him. What's more notable about the situation is that when officers put handcuffs on him and lifted him off his chair, he went limp and fell on the floor.

Hey, really changes the context of the story when one actually uses their brain and analyses what actually happened, and most importantly - why.

But yeah, let’s jump on the “Under DJT your freedoms are being eroded by the second” bandwagon like we’re either 16, or on Reddit.

 

[Hexic]

A clap is disruptive now?

Yes, because that’s what the article said was communicated to everyone there prior.

By definition the clap was disruptive, and led to this perpetual victim’s arrest. He knew the rules ahead of time, he felt he was above them anyways.

 

[Endymio]

Oh, another China news.

Yes: it's certainly the CCP behind all the anti-AI stories.

Despite the lying headline, the man was not arrested for "clapping". He was arrested for refusing to leave when requested. This happens several times a week in city and county board meetings around the country: it only makes the news when the media feels it helps a narrative they're trying to build.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

“It’s okay if I ignore policies and procedures because I feel that what I’m supporting is right.”

The idea of a government body restricting your right to expression is directly opposed to the first amendment.

 

[Melkor Unlimited]

Yes: it's certainly the CCP behind all the anti-AI stories.

Sure.
And weak grid not able to transfer enough power to feed those newly built or planed AI centers too.
And not enough powerplants to feed all of those AI datacenters.
And not enough water in arid states to cool those AI datacenters.

All of that are results of CCP doing wrong for a long long long time.

 

[PeeblaH]

'arrested for clapping'

Let me guess. Clapped and was told to be quiet during the event. Continued to clap. Was asked to leave. Refused to leave. Was then physically removed and arrested.

 

[Endymio]

Sure.
And weak grid not able to transfer enough power to feed those newly built or planed AI centers too.
And not enough powerplants to feed all of those AI datacenters.
And not enough water in arid states to cool those AI datacenters.

All of that are results of CCP doing wrong for a long long long time.

All this inane disinformation has long been debunked. First of all, the largest strain on the US grid at present is the proliferation of non-demand "green" sources: windmills and solar farms. For the last 20 years, I've heard environmentalists advocating for the trillion-dollar grid upgrades required to use these at scale, without any pushback.

As for water use, Kansas hardly qualifies as an arid state, and this particular datacenter will use a closed-loop system, consuming just 800 acre-feet per year of water. Golf courses in the US use several times as much water as all datacenters combined, and I don't hear any complaints about them-- even when they're sited in arid states, and use millions of gallons annually to keep those greens lush.

AI is the #1 growth technology of the 21st century. Either the US becomes a leader in it, or China will call the shots, and the US economy will be based on selling them corn, soybeans, and pork bellies.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

The idea of a government body restricting your right to expression is directly opposed to the first amendment.

On the contrary, when an individual uses outbursts to infringe on another person’s rights, it is no longer legal expression. That is disorderly conduct. It is the same rationale behind defamation laws, and why Alex Jones was convicted of breaking the law. The first amendment is not absolute.

Obviously the consequences are vastly different in these two cases, but the same principle applies. The outcome will be decided in the courts. There is nothing meaningfully newsworthy about this case however, except for “AI” that seems to have taken a foothold in so many people’s minds.