Memphis City Council Delay on Data Center Moratorium Sparks Chaos

The Memphis City Council descended into chaos Tuesday night after officials voted 7-5 to delay a decision on a proposed 12-month moratorium on new data center developments. The vote pushes the final decision to October 20, sparking immediate protests from over 100 residents concerned about the environmental and utility impacts of massive facilities, specifically the Colossus data centers operated by xAI.

The disruption involved shouting matches between protesters and council members, prompting Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen Washington to call a recess. Tensions escalated in the City Hall lobby, where a physical fight involving slapping and hair-pulling broke out among attendees. Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton clashed with protesters and fellow council member JB Smiley before being removed from the meeting.

Police intervened to clear the chamber and shut down the proceedings. While the meeting ended in disorder, no arrests have been reported.