I hope stories like these will make people actually participate in local politics
I hope stories pike these will make people participate in local politics
It would be fun if everyone in the town hall stood up and said “no” when the cops went to drag someone out.
What’s the word I’m looking for… silencing dissent with force… oh yea, FASCISM.
The small town of Emporia, Kansas is fighting against its city commission and a proposed hyperscale data center project that would sit on 1,000 acres of prairie land near Claridge’s home. Claridge attended a commission meeting on July 22 and planned to speak out against the project, but was dragged out of the meeting and arrested by police when they clapped during a presentation.
Emporia held Claridge for eight hours and charged them with disorderly conduct and interfering with a law enforcement officer. The city refused to show 404 Media a copy of the arrest report and has not responded to a request for comment about the dropped charges.
After Clardige’s arrest, Emporia’s city commission moved to virtual meetings and ended public comment. The city said it was doing so “in the interest of public safety.” According to Claridge, the city commission announced that in-person meetings with open public comments will return soon. “Our mayor is ‘willing to give us another shot to act like grown ups,’” Claridge said, quoting Emporia mayor Becky Smith. They added that the city will vote on whether or not to ban hyper-scale data centers outright in November.
According to a press release from the Emporia city commission, the city will meet in-person in a special session open to the public on August 26. “Public comment is expected to resume at the regular September 2 meeting,” the announcement said. In a different press release, the city said the November vote on a data center ban hinges on a County court giving it the OK.
These small town fucking assholes. Held them for EIGHT HOURS for clapping. Clapping.
I haven’t followed this story at all. Were they just clapping normally in agreement with something someone said or were they being disruptive with their clapping?
Holding some for 8 hours for disruptive clapping would also be ridiculous.
I don’t have a direct link to a file but here’s a clip on a regional (Nebraska) news affiliate:
pretty boring regular clapping. by the way, the speaker he clapped for right before getting arrested: his wife. literally applauding his wife for speaking up at town meeting.
they probably asked everyone to remain completely silent and had setup"rules" for applause between speakers… knowing that 1) they don’t want people to get riled up 2) it gives them pretense to remove people who say literally anything when not standing at the podium.
Man claps for his wife and gets arrested. That’s true love.
In the cause against earth-destroying data centers, no less.
This physics teacher is a hero.
I imagine he’ll receive deep respect and endless accolades from staff, students, and the community at large.
Lux Claridge, an Emporia High School physics teacher, was arrested after clapping during the meeting. Commissioners had warned those in attendance against disruptive behavior, including clapping, snapping or rude comments. Claridge and several others clapped in support of speakers opposing the Flint Hills Digital Campus data center. After commissioners issued a final warning, Claridge continued to clap, leading to their arrest.
“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.
The city claims it was disruptive, but they also disallowed “snapping or rude comments”. Considering they dropped all charges with no prejudice, the city was in the wrong here.
Considering they dropped all charges with no prejudice, the city was in the wrong here.
FYI: “without prejudice” means that the city prosecutors are free to refile the charges again at a later date. Or they can file a different set of charges for the same conduct.
Well that seems like a clear violation of free speech
