Protestors rally against proposed AI data center in Little Rock

Approximately two dozen protesters gathered outside the federal building in Little Rock, Arkansas, which houses the Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock district. The demonstration aimed to voice opposition to Google's proposed data center developments planned for the Little Rock area in the coming years. Concerns were primarily focused on the potential environmental impacts of these large computing facilities, including significant water usage. Protesters also referenced similar environmental worries raised across other parts of the country regarding data center construction. One 80-year-old protester emphasized the gravity of the issue, stating the importance of their involvement. The group urged the Army Corps of Engineers and local city leaders to resist pressure from Google and ultimately decline approval for the projects. The protest was scheduled to last approximately 90 minutes on a Wednesday afternoon during a public comment period.