Cottonwood Residents Take Surveillance Fight Public at Fourth of July Celebration
Northern Arizona residents will use the town's Fourth of July celebration to protest Flock cameras and drone surveillance, saying they enable mass surveillance without community consent.
A growing group of Cottonwood residents plans to spend part of their Independence Day weekend raising awareness about the town’s network of Flock license plate reader cameras and drone surveillance.
On Saturday, organizers will be at the Cottonwood Fourth of July Celebration at Cottonwood Kids Park (350 S. 12th St.) from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., inviting attendees to sign postcards calling for the removal of the surveillance technology and distributing free bumper stickers.
If you are working on removing the mass surveillance cameras in your city, July 4th events are the perfect opportunity to invite residents to protest the unauthorized, constant monitoring and surveillance that is going on in their community.
The campaign follows similar efforts in other Arizona communities, where residents argue that mass surveillance systems have been installed without meaningful public consent or oversight. Organizers say one of their most effective tactics has been collecting handwritten postcards from local residents and delivering them in bulk to city officials described as a visible demonstration of public opposition.
The effort is part of a broader grassroots movement challenging the expansion of automated surveillance technologies in Arizona cities. Several communities have already succeeded in persuading local governments to reconsider or remove surveillance systems.
For updates on the campaign and future events, visit Live Free AZ.
In May 2025, Cottonwood Police Department announced a new mobile surveillance trailer to help enhance public safety.
Privacy advocates have also posted this event on Indivisible Arizona for July 11th at the Cottonwood Public Library.
Stop Flock: Community Strategy & Brainstorming Meeting Details: Our first community meeting was a tremendous success! We heard from experts about Flock Safety cameras, how other communities have successfully challenged their implementation, and what options are available to residents. Now it's time for the next step. Join us for a community brainstorming and strategy meeting as we work together to develop a plan for addressing Flock cameras in Cottonwood. This will be a collaborative discussion where community members can share ideas, identify priorities, and help shape a local action plan. We'll talk about what's worked in other communities, what options are available to us, and how we can organize an effective, respectful, and informed community effort.
Event Notice on Indivisible Arizona