Memphis City Council devolves into chaos after data center moratorium vote postponed

A Memphis City Council meeting descended into chaos Tuesday night after lawmakers postponed a vote on a proposed year-long moratorium on new data centers, as protesters chanted inside City Hall, police cleared the chamber and a fight broke out in the lobby.The proposal comes as Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI operates its massive Colossus supercomputer facilities in the Memphis area, where some residents have raised concerns about data centers' use of power and water, along with their effects on air quality, noise and nearby neighborhoods.The council voted 7-5 to delay the moratorium vote until Oct.20.ERIC ADAMS BATTLES TENSE CROWD AS WISCONSIN AUDIENCE ERUPTS OVER AI DATA CENTER PROPOSALAudience members in favor of a data center moratorium erupted when Memphis City Council voted to postpone a vote on a temporary moratorium on Oct.

6, 2026 in Memphis, Tenn.(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)After the vote was postponed, protesters chanted, "This is our city," and, "Show me what democracy looks like," as police moved to clear people from the chamber.A fight between two women also broke out in the lobby, with video showing punches being thrown, according to Action News 5.

A Memphis Police Department spokesperson told the outlet that no one was detained or injured.It was unclear what sparked the fight or whether it was connected to the council meeting.Council members also clashed during the meeting.Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton exchanged words with protesters before turning her criticism toward Councilman J.B.

Smiley Jr., the lead sponsor of the moratorium proposal, according to the outlet."That’s all he does; he brings up mess," Cooper-Sutton said of Smiley."That’s all you do, JB Smiley, confuse the people over, over, over and over!"Smiley had pushed the council to hold the final vote Tuesday, arguing that residents had shown up expecting a decision.DATA CENTERS COULD BE THE SLEEPER ISSUE OF THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONSSeven council members voted to postpone the...