Flock cameras specifically and mass surveillance more broadly has become a hot button issue around the nation in recent months. While vigilante actions against Flock and other Automatic License Plate Reading cameras have grabbed headlines, both locally and around the state and even the nation– the real work– an actual solution can be found by engaging with our communities and local governments to limit their use, limiting how they can be used, or better yet cancelling the contracts and turning the cameras off altogether.
The debate about Flock cameras has officially come to Mesa County, and next week there will be three opportunities to make your voices heard and/or join a growing local movement to Deflock Mesa County.
Tuesday morning at 9am the Mesa County Board of County Commissioners meets and not much is on their agenda, but one thing that is on the docket is a presentation on Flock cameras by Art Smith, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Division Chief.
MCSO is taking a page out of a recently published 14-page (e-book) put out by Flock Safety. The manual titled How to Speak to City Councils About Public Safety, encourages local law enforcement agencies to “own the narrative before someone else does.”
This is the perfect opportunity to provide a people powered counter narrative.
There is even a zoom link at the top of the agenda and you can comment via zoom, but you must fill out this form by noon Monday.
The agenda also has guidelines for public comment.
Tuesday August 18 6:30pm DeFlock Mesa County will be holding its second mass meeting at the Clifton Library in the Mt. Garfield Room. We have a much larger meeting space this time. Last meeting far more people showed up than the space we had reserved could possibly hold. Good problems! Apologies if the chaos or the heat was too much for you.
We are a grassroots group, and we are building an organization at the same time we are starting to take actions to educate our community and elected officials. Join us. Help shape this community effort to DeFlock Mesa County. deflockmesacounty@proton.me
There are three working groups you can get more involved with: Research, Education, and Action
Wednesday August 19 5:30pm DeFlock Mesa County is organizing people to start speaking at Grand Junction City Council meetings on a semi-regular basis about the numerous concerns the people have about this intrusive technology. Public comment is at the beginning of the meeting and comments can be submitted online, via phone, zoom, and in person, more details are in the agenda.
People from all walks of life, political beliefs, and demographics all over this country are coming together in this fight, and we are coming together too, join us!
The Revolutionist 