On December 2, 2023, a Port Washington Common Council meeting was disrupted when a woman opposed to the approval of an $8 billion data center refused to leave during public comment. This led to her arrest, along with two other women, as tensions escalated in the meeting room. According to the Port Washington Police Department, the incident began when the 43-year-old woman started chanting towards the council, prompting a response from other attendees.

The nonprofit organization Great Lakes Neighbors United, which opposes the data center, shared video footage showing police attempting to remove the woman, which incited further outcry from the audience. Attendees expressed their discontent with shouts of support for the woman being removed. Police reported that during the removal attempt, the woman went limp, necessitating officers to carry or drag her out of the room.

The police stated that the situation escalated, resulting in the arrest of three women aged 43, 52, and 55, who were charged with disorderly conduct and subsequently released. No injuries were reported during the incident.

The Port Washington Common Council issued a statement emphasizing their commitment to maintaining a respectful environment for public discourse, noting that the meeting had been moved to a larger venue to accommodate public participation. They asserted that the individual in question was asked multiple times to leave before being removed for her disruptive behavior.

In contrast, Great Lakes Neighbors United expressed dismay at the events, arguing that the actions taken by law enforcement were excessive and that the arrested individuals were exercising their First Amendment rights. They criticized the council for prioritizing the interests of the data center project over community concerns, suggesting that the incident reflects a broader issue of silencing dissenting opinions in public forums. The organization called for a more respectful treatment of community members in future meetings.