The Man Behind the Anti-Flock Darth Vader Mask Wants to Know: 'When Will This End?'
San Diego activist who protested Flock surveillance cameras dressed as Darth Vader reveals a year-long organized campaign against the program.
Anthony Ralphs, a San Diego event producer, spent a year attending city council meetings to oppose Flock's automatic license plate reader program before going viral in a Darth Vader costume on August 19. In December 2025 the council voted to continue the program despite overwhelming public opposition, prompting Ralphs to escalate from occasional comments to organizing others to speak. He founded DeFlock San Diego and works with the TRUST SD coalition and other anti-surveillance groups.
- Ralphs attended council and subcommittee meetings up to twice weekly since 2025
- December 2025 council vote continued Flock program despite majority opposition
- Viral Vader speech framed Flock ALPRs as warrantless Empire-style surveillance
- He founded DeFlock San Diego and collaborates with the TRUST SD coalition
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From the original article
5 min read at 404media.co
Anthony Ralphs has been showing up to San Diego City Council meetings to speak against Flock's presence in his city for a year. At first, he took the podium during public comment in business casual — dress shirts, pants, suits, "respectable" clothing — to voice his concerns about the city's deal with the surveillance company. "I did all the right things.
By Samantha Cole · 404media.co
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