Maryland activist urges statewide data center moratorium
Gen-Z activist Micaiah Lloyd, a resident of Charles County, Maryland, spoke out against data center expansion near Baltimore. Alongside other organizers, Lloyd rallied in front of Baltimore City Hall, demanding Governor Wes Moore enact a permanent moratorium on data centers across Maryland.
Micaiah Lloyd, a grassroots organizer and resident of Charles County, Maryland, expressed strong opposition to the proliferation of data centers, particularly near Baltimore. Lloyd, who lives close to a proposed data center site, criticized Governor Wes Moore for prioritizing data center development while simultaneously vetoing reparations, highlighting a perceived disparity in political action.
Speaking at a rally in front of Baltimore City Hall, Lloyd connected the issue of data centers to broader societal concerns, including AI surveillance, automation, mass incarceration, and the erosion of civil rights. Joined by other Maryland residents and organizers from various counties, including Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Charles County, Prince George's County, Calvert County, and St. Mary's County, Lloyd delivered an impassioned plea to local and state leaders.
The central demand of the protest was for the Baltimore City government and Governor Wes Moore to prioritize citizens' well-being over development. Lloyd specifically called for a permanent moratorium on data center construction throughout Maryland, asserting that these facilities should not be placed in their communities.