Lawsuit claims Michigan City police unlawfully arrested data center protesters

Local 150 of the AFL-CIO has initiated a federal lawsuit, accusing Michigan City officials and police of illegally interfering with protests at a data center construction site. The union alleges that Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch and the City Council intentionally sabotaged their picket lines at the future location of "Project Maize" in late 2025. In April 2026, the union deployed its "Scabby the Rat" inflatable near Michigan City Hall as part of its ongoing protest against the city's actions. The lawsuit specifically targets the alleged unlawful disruption of union protests by municipal authorities and law enforcement.