Pack the Room: Speak Out Against Flock at the County Commission
Petitions and emails matter. But nothing moves elected officials like a room full of neighbors looking them in the eye. The New Hanover County Commissioners — who fund the Flock contract — meet in public this fall, and you can have your three minutes. Here’s exactly how.
No one voted these cameras in at a town hall — the County Manager signed the contract at the Sheriff’s request, funded through the county. The good news: the officials who put it in place can end it. The commissioners control the money and must sit and listen when residents speak, so that’s where we’ll show up in force — and we’ll press the Sheriff too (more on him below). Let’s make sure they hear from a lot of us.
Mark your calendar — two chances this fall
The Board of Commissioners holds its regular (evening) meetings at the Historic Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Room 301, in downtown Wilmington. The two meetings to aim for:
- Monday, August 17, 2026 — 4:00 p.m.
- Monday, September 21, 2026 — 4:00 p.m.
Our goal is simple: fill those two meetings with speakers. Five people is a comment period. Twenty-five people is a movement the board can’t ignore. (Always double-check the date and time on the county’s 2026 meeting schedule before you go — meetings occasionally move.)
DeFlock’s National Week of Action Against ALPRs runs August 16–22, 2026 — thousands of people in cities coast to coast standing up the same week. Our August 17 commission meeting falls right inside it, so showing up makes you part of a national movement, not just a local crowd. (Register Wilmington & get the toolkit at noalprs.com.)
How to be heard — two ways
1. Speak in person. You sign up in person on the day — there is no online sign-up. The Clerk’s team signs speakers in by 3:30 p.m. before the 4:00 meeting, so plan to arrive by then. Enter through the Princess Street entrance, clear the security screening, and go to the third floor (Room 301). Two things to know: public comment is the last item of the meeting, so be ready to stay through the whole agenda; and there is no cap on the number of speakers — everyone who signs up gets three minutes (Rule 26).
2. Submit a written comment. Can’t make it, or don’t want to speak aloud? New Hanover County has no general public-comment portal — the county’s online form is for Planning & Land-Use hearings only and does not reach the Board for general comment. Instead, email all five commissioners and the Clerk to the Board and ask that your comment be entered into the permanent record. Every commissioner reads it directly, whether or not you also speak. Email the Board & Clerk →
If you have any question about the procedure, call the Clerk to the Board at 910-798-7143 or check the commissioners’ page.
What to ask the commissioners for
- Cancel the county’s contract with Flock Safety and remove the ALPR cameras — as Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Chatham County and Macon County already did.
- At a minimum, require a warrant before any search, publish audit logs the public can see, end nationwide data-sharing, and shorten how long footage is kept.
- Oppose statewide plate-reader expansion and the SBI’s push to put readers on every road into North Carolina (the House Bill 206 provision was removed in June 2026, but the goal remains).
Don’t stop at the commissioners — press the Sheriff too
Here’s a key detail: the Flock contract is held and operated by the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, while the commissioners fund it. So the commission is where you show up to speak — but Sheriff Ed McMahon is the official who can actually choose to stop using and renewing the cameras. Contact his office too (New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, newhanoversheriff.com) and make the same ask. Pressure on both is how this ends.
Your three minutes: a simple script
“Good afternoon. My name is ______, and I’m a resident of New Hanover County. I’m here about the county’s contract with Flock Safety. The records the county released show its camera network was searched nearly three million times in about sixteen months — with the name of every searching agency and officer redacted. I’m not anti-police, and I want safe streets. But I don’t believe my daily movements should be tracked and stored without a warrant, or shared with agencies far outside this county. I’m asking you to cancel the Flock contract — and at a minimum to require warrants, publish audit logs, and stop the nationwide sharing of our data. Thank you.”
That’s about a minute. Use the rest to say why it matters to you — you’re a parent, a veteran, a small-business owner, someone who just doesn’t want to be tracked. Personal beats polished every time.
A few tips for first-timers
- You belong there. You don’t need to be an expert — you’re a resident, and that’s enough.
- Lead with the ask, keep it to one or two points, and stay respectful — it’s more persuasive and it keeps the room on our side.
- Bring a friend. Every additional speaker multiplies the pressure. Carpool, sit together, wear something that shows you’re with DeFlockILM.
- Signs are allowed. Bring one if you like — just keep it from blocking anyone’s view. Political-message clothing is fine too.
- Know the rules (Rule 26). Keep your comment germane to county business; you’re free to criticize the program and how officials have handled it, but no personal insults, threats, or profanity.
- Can’t speak? Just showing up and standing when supporters are asked to stand still sends a message.
They signed a contract in a quiet room. Let’s answer in a full one.
Commit now
- Put August 17 and September 21 on your calendar — 4:00 p.m., 24 N. Third St., Room 301.
- Tell us you’re coming and bring someone with you.
- Sign the petition and email your commissioners in the meantime.
Meeting dates, times, and public-comment procedures are set by New Hanover County and can change. Confirm the current details on the county’s Meetings page or by calling 910-798-7311 before you attend.
You’re not a suspect. So stop being tracked like one.
It takes one minute. Add your name, then tell your county commissioners to cancel the Flock contract.