A Kansas high school teacher was arrested and dragged out of a contentious city zoning meeting for continuously clapping in opposition to a proposed data center.
Lux Claridge was yanked out of a chair by three police officers and carried out of the Emporia City Commission meeting on July 22 for seemingly disobeying the mayor’s orders regarding clapping against the controversial Flint Hills Digital Campus data center proposed in Emporia, Kansas, the Emporia Police said.
“During the course of the meeting, several individuals in attendance were issued verbal warnings by the City Commission regarding disruptive conduct that was interrupting the proceedings.
Claridge, a 37-year-old physics teacher at Emporia High School, was among the dozen residents in the audience who opposed the data center, according to KWCH.
Several oppositionists gave comments and testimonials against the 1,000-acre, gigawatt-scale project that garnered rounds of applause, which provoked one board official to call for order against the clapping that was “rude and disruptive.”
After another woman’s comments, several audience members gave silent jazz hand applause, but Claridge clapped roughly five times, prompting Mayor Becky Smith to call for police action.
Officers surrounded Claridge, who had been sitting waiting to speak, and ordered the resident to leave the room.
“Hi, I’d like to speak,” Claridge told the officers.
“I have a right to clap,” Claridge can be heard saying, before telling officers to “drag me out” of the meeting.
Claridge resisted detainment, forcing the officers to carry the clapper out as the teacher’s stunned wife fought back tears at the podium.
“Claridge did not comply with law enforcement’s efforts to remove him from the premises, requiring officers to physically carry him out of the meeting,” Emporia police said.
Claridge was arrested and booked into the Lyon County Jail on charges of interference with law enforcement and disorderly conduct.
Claridge spoke out against the city commission for silencing opponents to the data center after being released from jail on bail,
“I’m glad to be out — but this is an inconvenience, really. It’s not really deterring me from speaking out or I guess, clapping,” Claridge said, according to KWCH.
Claridge’s family was looking into legal options against city hall, claiming that the arrest “represents an unjustified infringement on free expression.”
“Although the stated charges are disorderly conduct and interruption of a government meeting, I find those allegations unlawful and egregious. I was seated directly in front of them and could not even hear the applause,” Claridge’s brother, David Claridge, wrote on Facebook.
“I believe this arrest represents an unjustified infringement on free expression. Lux is a member of our community, a constituent, and a high school teacher,” the younger brother said.
“In my view, this incident reflects the kind of authoritarian behavior that undermines public trust in local government. As a first amendment absolutist, I cannot abide by the actions of the commission.
“This isn’t going to hold up in court. Lux is going to fight them on that. I’m looking at avenues to get these people recalled. This is insane to me,” David Claridge later told KWCH.
Other Emporia residents were left in shock and fear from speaking out against the massive tech project planned to be completed by the middle of 2029.
“We are citizens of this community; we have a right to do our constitutionally protected activities, which is exactly what they’re violating at this time as well,” an unidentified community member said. “I think we’re all in a state of fear because of what this government’s doing to us.”
The City Commission passed the proposal for the project, allowing the next stage to proceed in development, according to KVOE.
Police maintained Claridge was innocent until proven guilty but stood by the officer’s actions to obey city officials and remove the educator from the meeting.
“The Emporia Police Department 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 department said.
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