Coverage dated August 20, 2026 to August 22, 2026

'The Emperor is a fan of Flock': Man dressed as Darth Vader endorses cameras at city council meeting

Headline from WPRI Providence

A man dressed as Star Wars villain Darth Vader spoke during public comment at a San Diego City Council committee meeting on Wednesday to show tongue-in-cheek support of a stronger police force and the use of Flock cameras.

WPRI Providence's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Read the reports

Reports & sources

34 articles, oldest first.

  1. Gizmodo

    ‘The Emperor Is a Fan of Flock’: Darth Vader Speaks at City Council Meeting (opens Gizmodo)

    Published

    Gizmodo's feed description

    "This council was elected to serve the police, not the public," said Vader.

  2. Not The Bee

    "Darth Vader" comes out in favor of Flock cameras at San Fransisco city meeting (opens Not The Bee)

    Published

    Not The Bee's feed description

    "Darth Vader" is in favor of Flock cameras.

  3. The Hill

    Man dressed as Darth Vader defends Flock cameras to San Diego City Council: 'This is what the emperor needs' (opens The Hill)

    Published

    The Hill's feed description

    A man dressed as the iconic "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader on Wednesday appeared to defend the use of Flock cameras before the San Diego City Council, assuring that "this is what the emperor needs." The man approached the podium to address the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee Meeti…

  4. FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News

    'The Emperor is a fan of Flock': Man dressed as Darth Vader defends surveillance cameras at San Diego City Council meeting (opens FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News)

    Published

    FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News's feed description

    (FOX 5/KUSI) — A man dressed as Star Wars villain Darth Vader spoke during public comment at a San Diego City Council committee meeting on Wednesday to show tongue-in-cheek support of a stronger police force and the use of Flock cameras.

  5. New York Post

    Darth Vader crashes San Diego hearing to defend Flock spy cams: ‘This is what the emperor needs’ (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    The dark side has entered the surveillance debate.

  6. Fox News

    ‘Darth Vader’ uses dark side to mock controversial surveillance cameras: 'The Emperor is a fan of Flock' (opens Fox News)

    Published

    Fox News's feed description

    A man dressed as Darth Vader mocked Flock surveillance cameras at a San Diego City Council meeting, saying the technology would help find "rebel scum."

  7. BizPac Review

    Anti-Flock activist shows up to city council as Darth Vader to make the counter-case: ‘The emperor is a fan’ (opens BizPac Review)

    Published

    BizPac Review's feed description

    An anti-Flock camera activist appeared at a city council hearing dressed as Darth Vader to mockingly argue in defense of the surveillance technology. Flock cameras are public […]

  8. WFLA

    'The Emperor is a fan of Flock': Man dressed as Darth Vader defends surveillance cameras at city council meeting (opens WFLA)

    Published

    WFLA's feed description

    A man dressed as Star Wars villain Darth Vader spoke during public comment at a San Diego City Council committee meeting on Wednesday to show tongue-in-cheek support of a stronger police force and the use of Flock cameras.

  9. Breitbart News

    'This Is What the Emperor Needs': Darth Vader Shows Up at San Diego City Council Meeting to Mock Flock Cameras (opens Breitbart News)

    Published

    Breitbart News's feed description

    A man dressed as Darth Vader appeared before the San Diego City Council on Wednesday to deliver a Star Wars-themed mocking endorsement of the city's contested Flock surveillance cameras.

  10. Washington Examiner

    Man in Darth Vader costume trolls government meeting on Flock cameras: ‘Emperor is a fan’ (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    A California man took a creative approach to protesting Flock cameras during a local meeting, donning a Darth Vader costume to troll their use. The man leaned into the Star Wars villain’s persona during a San Diego government meeting on Wednesday, promoting the virtues of the controversial tracking …

  11. WPRI Providence

    'The Emperor is a fan of Flock': Man dressed as Darth Vader endorses cameras at city council meeting (opens WPRI Providence)

    Published

    WPRI Providence's feed description

    A man dressed as Star Wars villain Darth Vader spoke during public comment at a San Diego City Council committee meeting on Wednesday to show tongue-in-cheek support of a stronger police force and the use of Flock cameras.

  12. UPI

    Watch: 'Darth Vader' defends Flock cameras at San Diego City Council meeting (opens UPI)

    Published

    UPI's feed description

    A man dressed as Darth Vader attended a San Diego City Council meeting to defend the use of Flock cameras as "what the Emperor needs."

  13. Los Angeles Times

    'The Emperor is a fan': Darth Vader backs San Diego Flock surveillance cams (opens Los Angeles Times)

    Published

    Los Angeles Times's feed description

    Darth Vader defends controversial Flock surveillance cameras at San Diego city meeting.

  14. The Guardian

    ‘Darth Vader’ comes out in favor of Flock cameras at San Diego city council meeting (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    The dark lord – or someone dressed like him – said the technology would aid the empire in tracking ‘rebel scum’ A man dressed as Darth Vader appeared to poke fun at San Diego officials for using Flock Safety automated license plate readers at a city council meeting this week, a stunt that comes as t…

  15. Jezebel

    Darth Vader Attends City Council Meeting to Praise Flock Cameras: “Surveil the Rebel Scum” (opens Jezebel)

    Published

    Jezebel's feed description

    The Dark Lord of the Sith also wants more money for cops and stormtroopers, but mostly Darth Vader just really loves Flock.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

'The Emperor is a fan of Flock': Man dressed as Darth Vader endorses cameras at city council meeting | Since Then