Students protest Google data center project in Stillwater, Oklahoma
Students from Oklahoma State University, including descendants of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, protested against Google's approved data center project in Stillwater, Oklahoma. They expressed concerns about the project's impact on tribal sovereignty, land, water, electricity costs, and cultural traditions. The Stillwater Planning Commission had approved the final plan for the data center in March 2025.
Students at Oklahoma State University, including members of the Student Socialist League and descendants of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, held a silent protest against Google's proposed data center project in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on September 4-5, 2026. The protest took place in the Student Union, with students displaying signs such as "You Can't Drink Data."
Elijah Grass, a senior dietetics nutritional science major and Muscogee (Creek) Nation descendant, stated that data centers threaten tribal sovereignty, land, and cultural practices. Jaden Waters, another descendant, emphasized their heritage's teachings of caring for the land, which they believe is directly opposed by data center development. Waters noted that the Seminole Nation has already banned data centers from its tribal land, setting a precedent.
Grass also highlighted the negative impacts on local residents, citing rising water and electricity costs in communities where data centers are built. The Stillwater Planning Commission approved Google's data center plan in March 2025, paving the way for construction on 202 acres as part of Google's $9 billion investment in Oklahoma's AI and cloud network.