Kansas town drops charges against teacher arrested for clapping during public hearings on data centers — says that ‘case has been dismissed without prejudice’

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It seems that the city is washing its hands off the case and passing the burden on the county.

a protester holding a 'stop data centers' sign
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Lux Claridge, the teacher who was arrested in Emporia, Kansas, during an AI data center meeting for clapping, said that the city has dropped the charges against them. According to 404 Media, the Emporia assistant city attorney told Claridge’s lawyer that the case has been dismissed without prejudice in municipal court because of conflicts on the matter. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that they’re in the clear yet, as the case has been bumped to the County Attorney’s office for further review.

“Today, I was informed by my attorney that the city has dropped my charges and has passed my information along to the county,” Claridge told the publication. “As far as I know, I’m in the clear unless the county is feeling froggy.” This series of unfortunate events started when the teacher politely clapped five times after a speaker gave their comments against the proposed data center in the city. It seems that the city’s commissioners had warned against clapping and other reactions beforehand, saying that it was disruptive. So, when they clapped, someone from the crowd, presumably someone with authority, asked a police officer to take the next person who claps outside of the venue.

This was when several cops approached Claridge, who asked them to leave, but they stood firm, saying, “I have a right to speak.” When the authorities insisted that they go, they just said, “Drag me out,” after which the four officers cuffed the individual, physically lifted them, and hauled them off to the Lyon County Jail. They were finally let out after eight hours, after which they were charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a law enforcement officer.

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After this incident, the city canceled the public meetings set for August 5 and August 19, 2026, and moved them online. The city said that commissioners were receiving death threats from external sources and that it’s taking the measure to protect the safety of its officials and the public. However, it also didn’t allow public comments, which some are questioning, although it did tell citizens that they can phone in their concerns instead. Nevertheless, the city will return to in-person meetings soon, and it will also open public comments once more, with Claridge quoting Emporia mayor Becky Smith saying that she’s “willing to give us another shot to act like grown-ups.” Emporia is expected to put the data center ban to a vote in November via public ballot. However, it also said that even if the people approve the proposed ordinance, it can only take effect after it has been ruled that the petition is deemed legal in the first place.

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Jowi Morales
Jowi Morales
Contributing Writer

Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.

10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Darkhands
    Land of the free
    Reply
  • PEnns
    To no one's surprise.
    Reply
  • DS426
    “As far as I know, I’m in the clear unless the county is feeling froggy.” - Lux Claridge
    I like this guy.
    Reply
  • KaiserTom
    Maybe if you receive death threats for selling out your municipality and tax payers to billionaires, you should take it as a sign to stop and maybe get out of office for being corrupt cronies.

    When you remove all non-violent ways to protest and disagree with the actions of your government, you only leave one action left. And you should expect it as you deserve. No sympathy, no empathy, and no remorse for sell-out politicians to the wannabe plutocrat billionaires.
    Reply
  • hotaru251

    The city said that commissioners were receiving death threats from external sources

    However, it also didn’t allow public comments, which some are questioning, although it did tell citizens that they can phone in their concerns instead

    when your city is willing ot make threats to prevent stuff happening..and then they effectively say "no public concerns allowed' (as i doubt the phone in concerns ever made it to the ears of anyone but the front desk) ...you know you should probably not do it.
    Reply
  • thisisaname
    No and I dislike the idea that "people" need to conform or face arrest.

    He waited until the speaker had finished speaking and clapped, for a couple of seconds at most. Even if you say is clappng did disrupt the meeting, his arrest was far more disruptive and out of proportion to the offence.

    Do you want to live in a world where you have to obey everything those in charge say or risk being arrested?
    Reply
  • hotaru251
    thisisaname said:
    , his arrest was far more disruptive and out of proportion to the offence.
    if you read it he was not gonna be arrested for the clapping. (just remvoed from room)
    What got him arrested was his refusal to leave and him saying to drag him out.

    While overboard it was not clapping that got him jailed but the refusing to leave that did.
    Reply
  • Bigshrimp
    hotaru251 said:
    if you read it he was not gonna be arrested for the clapping. (just remvoed from room)
    What got him arrested was his refusal to leave and him saying to drag him out.

    While overboard it was not clapping that got him jailed but the refusing to leave that did.
    That's literally a logical fallacy if you consider the constitution and the rights enshrined within. He shouldn't have been threatened to be removed for simply clapping in the first place. Then arresting him after threatening to remove him is all on them for trampling on his first amendment right to be there. I hope he sues the council, the mayor, and the police for breach of his first amendment rights for being removed and arrested for simply clapping after someone spoke. He would very easily win in court if the judge isn't corrupt, which I would hope so for all our sakes.

    What is shocking based on what happened is the judge that dismissed his case made sure to label it as "without prejudice", meaning that they may try to charge him again, which is insane. He is just one guy against the might of the machine and they just don't like him clapping. I hope you or anyone you know doesn't get arrested for exercising their first amendment rights, which should not happen in a lawful society. I really wonder if anyone even knows their rights anymore, lol.
    Reply
  • hotaru251
    Bigshrimp said:
    He shouldn't have been threatened to be removed for simply clapping in the first place.
    I dislike the outcome myself, but in this case the rules were stated prior to it happening.
    If you break a rule it is 100% acceptable to be asked to leave for not respecting the prior rules.
    Bigshrimp said:
    I hope he sues the council, the mayor, and the police for breach of his first amendment rights for being removed and arrested for simply clapping after someone spoke
    except thats not how it works.
    HE broke rule, refused to leave & told them to drag him out...and he was released after 8hrs....all of which is legal (police can legally toss you in prison for any reason w/o proof for up to liek 24-72hrs and its still "legal" (which is crappy).
    Bigshrimp said:
    doesn't get arrested for exercising their first amendment rights
    you seem to be twisting that view with the fact he ignored rules.... even 1st amendment has limitations (such as it in fact only applies to Gov taking your rites and why private/public/work places can do so legally)

    sucks what happened but it was no illegal to do so. (just scummy)
    Reply
  • Bigshrimp
    hotaru251 said:
    I dislike the outcome myself, but in this case the rules were stated prior to it happening.
    If you break a rule it is 100% acceptable to be asked to leave for not respecting the prior rules.

    except thats not how it works.
    HE broke rule, refused to leave & told them to drag him out...and he was released after 8hrs....all of which is legal (police can legally toss you in prison for any reason w/o proof for up to liek 24-72hrs and its still "legal" (which is crappy).

    you seem to be twisting that view with the fact he ignored rules.... even 1st amendment has limitations (such as it in fact only applies to Gov taking your rites and why private/public/work places can do so legally)

    sucks what happened but it was no illegal to do so. (just scummy)
    The way you describe this nonsense is like we are in kindergarten and the kids are being bad, so they need to be punished, lol. These people are adults with lives, a community, and the right to make their voices heard. If clapping constitutes some draconian rule breaking and goes against the Constitution, the Constitution takes precedence and should be enforced properly so people can practice their rights enshrined in the Constitution. The rule they are enforcing should be unenforceable if the actual Constitution was being followed.

    Citizens have a first amendment right to speak to their government without hinderance or loss of liberty. You might want to do some more research. Not much else I can explain to you if you can't grasp what I have already said.
    Reply