(PENSACOLA) --- Art is powerful, especially when it is in resistance.
A Flock Art Build, put together by Defensa Gulf Coast, takes the local activist group's efforts to the next level after Mayor D.C. Reeves brought Police Chief Eric Winstrom to the podium to address their concerns at the April 23 meeting.
(Photo: Defensa Gulf Coast Flock Art Build, May 8)
It didn't work.
OpGov.News has been reporting on the local group from the beginning. By February, it was obvious the group was not going anywhere. If anything, the police chief's words only propel protestors forward with force, specifically after learning that Reeves approved the Flock contract in February without the council's approval.
Alex Hatley has not missed a city council meeting in the last three months, showing up every two weeks with others to drive home one point: cancel the local surveillance contract.
"It shows that the effort that the mayor put out to bring up the new police chief is a way to disprove the examples and the arguments that we are making," Hatley said last night while making signage.
The Art Build accompanies a circulating petition and last month's rally, during which Hatley was allowed to speak as long as she wanted, rather than being buzzed away by the three-minute timer used in meetings.
(Photo: Defensa Gulf Coast Flock Art Build, May 8)
The last meeting was the second time Winstrom was at the podium, when he ignored the concern. When interviewed by one local media outlet, Winstrom defended Flock. It was no different at the April 23 meeting, where Winstrom was allowed to speak as long as he wanted.
Defending Flock surveillance also doesn't work, according to Hatley.
"The reason that these Flock cameras were signed into contract was this illusion of safety to Pensaocla," Hatley said, adding that misused data and unvetted officers searching the system is cause for concern. "Until those concerns are addressed, I am not sure how we can lean on the safety of these."
Finding out about misuse is as simple as a Google search.
"Type in Flock updates and you get a ton of articles on how they are being misused and mishandled," Hatley said. "At the end of the day, every single argument is valid."
(Photo: Defensa Gulf Coast Flock Art Build, May 8)
Hatley brought up Councilman Charles Bare's argument against the contract in February. But it was Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier's elephant-in-the-room question to Winstrom at the last meeting that showed her support.
"No matter who speaks up and gives their opinion, it shows support," Hatley said. "That's just more people recognizing what we are doing and what we have to say."
But a picture paints a thousand words, hence the Art Build.
(Photo: Defensa Gulf Coast Flock Art Build, May 8)
"Art builds are important for the community and enable new conversations with people you have never met," Hatley said. "I think that is one of the best things about art building: community."
Power is also in the fine print of the agenda, with Hatley telling others to take heed.
"It's not like some of these things are major news," Hatley added. WEAR and PNJ are not paying attention. "When you say I have not seen this, there is probably a reason why you haven't."
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