Memphis council meeting erupts after vote on data center pause is delayed again

A packed Memphis City Council meeting fell apart Tuesday night after members put off a final vote on a proposed one-year moratorium on new data centers.

More than 100 people turned out for the debate, much of it focused on the xAI facilities tied to Elon Musk. When the council pushed the final reading back another two weeks, the room boiled over, with residents chanting "ain't no power like the power of the people."

Tempers flare on the dais

Council member Yolanda Cooper-Sutton reportedly traded words with protesters and then turned her frustration on colleague JB Smiley, accusing him of repeatedly confusing the public. Smiley reportedly said the council should have listened to the residents who came out before deciding what was best for them.

A fight in the lobby

The tension spilled outside the chamber, where two women got into a physical fight in the lobby while protesters inside chanted "this is our city." Police stepped in and the rest of the meeting was called off.

Supporters of the pause say large data centers could strain the city's utilities and affect nearby neighborhoods. The vote is now expected in two weeks.