A wave of demonstrations against the expansion of AI data centers swept across the United States on Saturday, with organizers staging 142 protests in 42 states.
The action marked the first nationwide attempt to turn growing local frustration over data centers into a broader political movement.
HumansFirst, co-founded by former Tea Party leader Amy Kremer, coordinated the campaign, arguing that communities have been left with too little influence over projects that can place heavy demands on water, land and other public resources, Reuters reported.
Organizers said the protests were aimed at forcing greater public scrutiny of data center development and challenging what they see as unchecked expansion by major technology companies.
However, some local organizers said turnout fell below expectations in rural areas and in cities including Atlanta, though HumansFirst said it was encouraged by the response from community groups.
At demonstrations in Virginia and Georgia, protesters focused on water use and the lack of public consent around large-scale AI projects.
Anger reaches across party lines
Kremer described the campaign as nonpartisan, criticizing Republicans for going easy on Big Tech while calling for more openness, stronger protections and better deals for local communities.
They are also calling for well-paid union jobs and tougher consequences for developers that fail to deliver on their commitments.
Opposition to data centers is drawing support from people with sharply different political views, making it one of the few issues capable of cutting across the country’s ideological divide.
A June Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only one in three Americans supported the current pace of data center construction, while just 14 percent backed building a local facility for AI projects run by companies such as Meta.
Water concerns drive local campaigns
In California’s Imperial County, protesters rallied against a proposed project that could draw 260 million gallons of water each year from the Colorado River.
Ivan DelSol, a 54-year-old left-leaning organizer, said using that amount of fresh water for AI infrastructure was deeply troubling, adding that around 50 people joined the protest despite temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
In Tyler, Texas, Eva Cardona organized a smaller demonstration that attracted about a dozen people.
The 31-year-old first-time activist, who described herself as politically independent, said concern over the speed of AI development pushed her to take action beyond posting online.
The protests show that resistance to data centers is moving from isolated local disputes into a wider national campaign, driven by questions over resource use, public oversight and the influence of large technology companies.
Mounting opposition puts data centers on the U.S. policy agenda
Public concern over AI infrastructure had already intensified in early June, when residents in Southaven, Mississippi, sued xAI, SpaceX and MZX Tech LLC over noise and vibrations allegedly linked to gas-powered turbines serving nearby data center operations.
The residents said the round-the-clock activity disrupted sleep, restricted the use of homes and outdoor spaces, and threatened property values.
They also accused the companies of failing to introduce adequate noise controls despite complaints from the community.
The issue later moved further into U.S. policy when New York paused state environmental permits for new hyperscale data centers for up to one year. Governor Kathy Hochul said the temporary measure would give officials time to develop rules addressing pressure on the power grid, ratepayers, the environment and local communities.
The decision quickly drew criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that tighter restrictions could push AI companies, investment and tax revenue toward states such as Alabama, Arizona, Florida and Texas.
He argued that data center developers should pay for the electricity and water they consume and deliver clear economic benefits to host communities, including jobs and government revenue.
Trump also framed the expansion as part of the technological rivalry between the United States and China, warning that limits on large computing facilities could slow domestic AI development and weaken the country’s position in the global race.
The disagreement highlights the tension at the heart of the data center debate: communities are demanding stronger safeguards and a greater say in project approvals, while supporters warn that tighter controls could drive investment elsewhere and undermine U.S. ambitions in artificial intelligence.
