Doug Jones Tells Data Center Protestors, "Moratorium Is The Word.

Alabama Citizens Against Data Centers marched in protest against hyperscale data centers at Railroad Park in Birmingham, today. When, much to their pleasant surprise, Alabama Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate, Doug Jones, met them at Railroad Park and addressed them in-person. Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones then proceeded to tell the protestors that, "Moratorium is the word" when it comes to hyperscale data centers. A statement which was immediately met with cheers from the bipartisan civic minded group.

Doug Jones then proceeded to talk to the Alabamians at the protest about the importance of transparency in our state. Which has become an issue of prime importance where hyperscale data centers are concerned, due to the secrecy shrouding the development of such centers via nondisclosure agreements among other legal maneuvers. With Doug Jones emphasizing multiple times to the protestors that he believed in a moratorium for these secretive new hyperscale data centers. Comments which were met with joy by the protestors. For the protestors were marching around Railroad Park yelling chants that said, "What do we want?" "Moratorium!" "When do we want it?" "Now!"

The group of about forty to fifty concerned citizens were marching in Railroad Park today in solidarity with nationwide protests against hyperscale data centers. As the grassroots group, Humans First, promoted the protests against the hyperscale data centers, specifically emphasizing the protection of local water resources and local power resources from such natural resources depleting entities. With Humans First also calling for greater transparency from the Big Tech companies.

Alabama Gazette staff photographer

Darrel Bethel at the data center protest at Railroad Park

Humans First points out on its website that, "AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been built on American land, trained on American data, powered by American energy, and stands on a century of American research funded by American taxpayers. Why should a handful of unelected tech elites in Silicon Valley decide the fate of our nation? Everyday Americans deserve a say in how this technology develops." Humans First further explains on its website that, "Humans First is a conservative social movement that is dedicated to ensuring that the future of AI is in the hands of everyday people." The group also proceeds to clarify that, "The conservative movement has been transformed by President Trump into a movement that puts the interests of everyday American first. Now, Big AI Globalists seek to hijack our movement to get Washington, D.C. to put Big AI before the American people. Humans First is the start of the fight to reclaim our country. We saved America before, we will do it again."

Alabama Gazette staff photographer

Doug Jones meeting with data center protestors

In Alabama, with the Republican Gubernatorial nominee, Tommy Tuberville, stating his overwhelming support of hyperscale data centers, the issue has the potential to mark a turning point in what many have considered to be a predictable governor's race come November. As while Alabama is a majority Republican state that overwhelmingly supports President Donald J. Trump, many Alabamians who are concerned about the colonizing of Alabama by the hyperscale data centers, are starting to question their party loyalties. With some Alabama Citizens Against Data Centers posting comments on social media such as, "Data Centers might finally turn me Democrat." And others stating that, "Been voting Republican my entire life, but as passionate as I am against Data Centers, I might just start voting democrat."

Alabama Gazette staff photographer

Data center protest in Railroad Park

So far, Texas, is the state that has held the most demonstrations against the hyperscale date centers, today. With 16 protests against the data centers being held in The Lone Star State. Another Southern state, Georgia, came in second place in the number of protests being held today against the hyperscale data centers. With 11 demonstrations being documented in The Peach State. It is important to note that according to some studies, nearly half of all planned data center construction nationwide is currently planned to be built in the South. As Big Tech is investing billions in the South, with some estimates showing that Big Tech has committed over $200 billion to build hyperscale data centers in North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama. Observers of the hyperscale data center phenomenon note that most data centers being developed in the South are by companies based outside of the South. As the Big Tech carpetbaggers are being lured to the South by tax breaks and other fiscal incentives that the South has used to attract other industries to the region, notably the automobile industry.

Another political candidate who was present at the protest at Railroad Park in Birmingham that was held today was Darral Bethel. With Bethel, an assistant principal in Bessemer, showing his solidarity with the protestors as he is running for mayor of Bessemer. An election which is being held on August 25th in Bessemer. With Bessemer being a city which is facing a massive 1.2 gigawatt hyperscale data center project termed, "Project Marvel". A hyperscale data center project that is receiving huge opposition from the Bessemer community. With the planned 18-building hyperscale data center in Bessemer being estimated to consume once it is built 1,200 megawatts of power and up to 130,000 gallons of municipal water on a daily basis.