> 1. You Are Not Alone: The Movement Grows
Since mid 2026, over 70 U.S. cities have canceled or paused their Flock contracts due to public pressure. Success stories include:
- Lynnwood, WA: Unanimous council vote to terminate contract and remove system
- Dennver, CO: Contract amended to block data sharing with outside agencies
- Charlottesville, VA: Discontinued contract over privacy concerns
- Santa Cruz, CA | Flagstaff, AZ | Eugene, OR | Olympia, WA: All deactivated or banned the technology
This proves organized communities can win against surveillance infrastructureāeven though the FBI is actively bidding for nationwide access.
Understand The Full Network →> 2. Step-by-Step Organizing Guide
STAGE 1: Research your city's current Flock contract + data retention policies
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STAGE 2: Build coalition (neighbors, civil liberties groups, local journalists)
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STAGE 3: Launch petition (Change.org + printed copies at community events)
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STAGE 4: Attend Public Safety/City Council meetings + speak during public comment
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STAGE 5: Follow up via email + keep media engaged throughout process
The key metric: turnout matters. Show up together every meeting until you get results.
> 3. Sample City Council Letter Template
Use this from the Fight for the Future Toolkit:
Dear City Council / County Legislature,View Full Petition Template →
I am writing to express my strong concern and opposition to the deployment of Flock Safety cameras in our community. These devices create a permanent database tracking every vehicle passing by, storing location data and timestamps that can be searched without a warrant.
Over 30 cities nationwide have already canceled Flock contracts due to similar concerns about mass surveillance, immigration enforcement partnerships, and lack of oversight. We urge you to immediately review our city's use of these cameras, strengthen privacy protections, and put safeguards in place so this data cannot be misused to track residents' movements, associates, or medical visits.
Privacy is not optionalāit's a fundamental right. Do not let unchecked surveillance become our legacy.
> 4. Demand Transparency: File a FOIA Request
Even if you can't ban the cameras immediately, demand access to records about how they're being used:
Subject: Freedom of Information Act Request for Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Records
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. Ā§ 552) and applicable state public-records law, I request all responsive documents pertaining to:
- Capture, storage, retention, and dissemination of ALPR images and associated data
- Contracts with Flock Safety including renewal terms and termination clauses
- Any data-sharing agreements with federal agencies (ICE, CBP, etc.)
- System usage logs showing who has accessed searches and for what purposes
Please produce in electronic format (searchable PDFs, CSV files). Fee waiver requested for public interest.
Based on templates from ACLU Southern California, EFF, and ACLU Massachusetts.
> 5. Speaking at City Council: Quick Tips
- Be concise: Most meetings give 2-3 minutes per speaker. Write it down.
- Cite specific examples: Mention Kansas police chiefs stalking exes or trash-bag cover-ups in Dayton.
- Bring evidence: Printouts of news articles, petition signatures, and success stories from other cities.
- Ask for specifics: Don't just ask them to "review"āask for dates, vote timelines, and follow-up hearings.
- Show solidarity: Coordinate with multiple speakers to address different angles (privacy, legal, financial, security).
Remember: councils respond to sustained pressure, not one-time comments.
How to mask your signal.
Continue: The Defense →