‘Darth Vader’ Wants You to Know He Definitely Supports Flock Surveillance

Anthony Ralphs, a San Diego-based DJ, event producer, and agriculture consultant, recently made headlines for his unusual advocacy against the city's use of Flock surveillance technology. Dressed as Darth Vader, Ralphs appeared at a city council meeting to voice his opposition to the technology that allows police to track and monitor individuals' movements. The recording of his appearance quickly went viral, gaining millions of views on social media platforms.

Before donning the Darth Vader costume, Ralphs had been attending city council meetings for months in an attempt to raise awareness about his concerns. He noted that the city council had voted to continue using Flock technology despite overwhelming opposition from the public. Ralphs explained that the vote took place during a time when the city was facing a $120 million deficit and had already cut several arts programs, yet still allocated $2.2 million for the Flock contract.

One of the most notable consequences of Flock's use was the wrongful imprisonment of Hugo Parra, a local San Diegan who spent 30 days in jail due to an erroneous tag from the Flock cameras. Parra, along with his friend, is now suing the city for $1.5 million. Should the city settle the lawsuit, it will likely add another million dollars to the Flock contract's total cost.

Ralphs' artistic approach to civic engagement drew inspiration from his background in theater and labor studies. He had previously organized for the American Federation of Teachers and participated in various political activities, including phone banks and canvassing. His experience with art as a means of political impact also informed his decision to adopt the Darth Vader persona for his protest.