Meet The Activists Opposing Virginia Data Centers. Some Have Marxist Ties.

August 09, 2026 4:37 PM ET Some Virginia anti-data center activists and candidates are seemingly linked to a Marxist-Leninist party tied to the Chinese Communist Party, according to public records, social media and news reports.Local Virginia political figures have appeared in connection with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a Marxist-Leninist organization that seeks to replace US capitalism with socialism. Data center opposition has intensified across Virginia over concerns about rising electricity demand and costs, water use, noise pollution and facilities being built near homes, according to the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. Those issues are especially pronounced in Northern Virginia, where the state’s data center industry is focused. These local f