A Kansas high school teacher was arrested and removed from an Emporia city commission meeting for clapping in opposition to a proposed data center. Lux Claridge, a 37-year-old physics teacher at Emporia High School, was taken out of the July 22 meeting by three police officers.
The incident occurred during a discussion of the Flint Hills Digital Campus, a proposed 1,000-acre, gigawatt-scale data center project. Several residents expressed opposition to the project, with some comments drawing applause from the audience. A board official called for order, stating that the clapping was "rude and disruptive."
After another resident spoke, some audience members used silent jazz hands for applause. Claridge then reportedly clapped approximately five times, prompting Mayor Becky Smith to request police intervention. Officers surrounded Claridge, who had been seated and awaiting an opportunity to speak, and instructed the resident to leave.
Claridge reportedly resisted detainment, stating, "I have a right to clap," and telling officers to "drag me out." Police said Claridge did not comply with their efforts to remove them, leading officers to physically carry the teacher from the room. Claridge's wife was present at the podium during the removal.
Following the incident, Claridge was arrested and booked into the Lyon County Jail on charges of interference with law enforcement and disorderly conduct. After being released on bail, Claridge stated that the arrest was an inconvenience but would not deter them from speaking out or clapping. The family is reportedly considering legal options, with Claridge's brother calling the arrest an "unjustified infringement on free expression" and authoritarian behavior.
Other community members expressed fear and concern over the city commission's actions, asserting their right to participate in constitutionally protected activities. The City Commission ultimately passed the proposal for the data center project, allowing its development to proceed. The Emporia Police Department stated they remain committed to ensuring public meetings are conducted safely and orderly while respecting citizens' rights to participate.