Things got heated at a public meeting in an Oklahoma town over a proposed data center. At the meeting, residents voiced their concerns about water use and infrastructure of the proposal. “Claremore police arrested Darren Blanchard for trespassing during the meeting after officers said he refused to follow the rules after going over his allotted time to speak,” News On 6 stated. “People are being arrested for speaking out against AI data centers. Keep standing up for your community,” one social media user wrote. Footage of the arrest below: People are being arrested for speaking out against AI data centers. Keep standing up for your community. Location: Claremore, Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/uE3KS1dq0I — Lane Brown (@lanebrown_3) February 18, 2026 News On 6 has more: Blanchard begins speaking at the 1 hour and 54 minute mark. In the video, Blanchard can be seen going over his allotted three minutes and saying that he was “reclaiming his time” because other attendees had applauded during his speech, which he paused for. Blanchard continued to speak for about 30 seconds, but as officers approached, he put the mic down and walked to the front with the officers close behind. Blanchard pauses in front of the council members’ table and appears to try to hand a piece of paper to them. Officers stood next to him, exchanging some words, and after about 20 seconds, the officers placed cuffs on him. He is then escorted out of the room by officers. “Red states arresting their own people for speaking up against the Agenda 2030 land grab for chatbot retardation,” The Blaze Senior Editor Daniel Horowitz commented. Red states arresting their own people for speaking up against the Agenda 2030 land grab for chatbot retardation. https://t.co/UueWO244S4 — Daniel Horowitz (@RMConservative) February 18, 2026 “When people are getting arrested for opposing a surveillance‑hungry data center in their town, that’s not civic engagement. That’s the state enforcing silence,” The Free Thought Project co-founder Jason Bassler said. When people are getting arrested for opposing a surveillance‑hungry data center in their town, that’s not civic engagement. That’s the state enforcing silence.https://t.co/hr2uQwVn4d — Jason Bassler (@JasonBassler1) February 18, 2026 KTUL shared further: “It all goes back to this idea of land, water and power,” said Darren Blanchard in an interview a few hours before he was put in handcuffs. He was one of several speakers at RSU in Claremore, raising concerns about the data center proposal Project Mustang. “I think there’s a lot of concern here whether our public officials are doing things in accordance with law,” he said. And speaking of the law, Blanchard would find himself on the wrong side of it. Payton Pepin describes what unfolded. “One or two guys spoke in favor of it, they let one of those guys go over several seconds, probably 20, 30 seconds, really said nothing about him going over but when Darren Blanchard did it, they brought the police in and said get him out of here and he said ok, he willingly put down the mic, went up front and said I’m done and they arrested him.” The crowd moaned in disbelief with one woman shouting, “He’s speaking the truth!” Blanchard has been immersed in the topic of data centers and has spoken to various communities, including Coweta, about his concerns. Watch additional coverage: Full meeting below: