(PENSACOLA) --- A Flock rally outside city hall yesterday made it clear that protestors are taking their concerns to the next level.
After standing up to Mayor D.C. Reeves and the Pensacola City Council at every council meeting for two months to no avail, Defensa Gulf Coast Organizer Sol Alfonso spoke to OpGov.News before the rally, answering a hard question to ask.
What does it feel like to be ignored?
"In the beginning, it is frustrating, but I have been organizing for a while, and I have seen it happen time and time again," Alfonso said. "It takes a lot of pressure and dozens and dozens of people to come, and that forces them to speak."
Alfonso's point is proven here.
And it's not just Charles Bare, it's also Councilmembers Jennifer Brahier and Casey Jones.
"Casey hasn't actually spoken in agreement with us, but in general wants to know more about the contract and the details of it," Alfonso said.
Defensa Gulf Coast is spreading those details around, creating a petition and flyers.
(Photo: Defensa Gulf Coast Flock flyer)
"We are doing weekly outreach downtown to get the word out because most people in Pensacola don't even know that is happening," Alfonso said.
(Photo: Defensa Gulf Coast activists rallying outside Pensacola City Hall)
He is right.
OpGov.News is the only local media outlet to have reported on the Flock concerns from citizens and the protestors, as noted here. That lack of attention is disconcerting, especially when notable outlets, including National Public Radio (NPR), follow the issues closely.
NPR released a February report stating that town officials in Hillsborough, North Carolina, ceased their relationship with Flock.
"Town leaders became concerned about language that could be interpreted as allowing Flock Safety to disclose data to any government entity or third party if the company had a 'good faith belief' of a need to do so," NPR reports.
NPR reports the "pressure" needed for change.
"Some cities have grappled with the issue and decided to keep their cameras due to public safety, but in a number of places, the pressure worked," NPR reports.
Pepper McQuiffins personally puts on that pressure every other Thursday night when she stands at the podium.
(Photo: Defensa Gulf Coast activists rallying outside Pensacola City Hall)
"I honestly hope to sow the seeds of that feeling amongst other councilmen and women as well," McQuiffins, who publicly thanked Bare for questioning Reeves on the use of Opioid Abatement funds to renew the city's Flock contract.
"Mayor Reeves doesn't care because he didn't put it towards the council or public and just feels like they are not listening and they don't care," McQuiffins said. "It's frustrating, but we are going to keep on doing it."
Where next?
"We go to the county," McQuiffins said.
City or county, Alfonso said, "the broader message we send is to bring all sides of the aisle together on privacy rights and the fact that you are being surveilled in a warrantless search."
Alex Hatley will be the first to tell you. Hatley took the microphone on Thursday, laying out the facts as seen in the video above.
After speaking, Hatley told OpGov.News "allies like this are to educate the public on what a flock camera is, and there is mass surveillance in the city and our county.
Hatley, too, said she will not give up and asked others to do the same.
"Email your city council and commissioners," Hatley said. "And the more educated the public becomes, the more pressure will be put on them."
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