Records collected by haveibeenflocked.com show Rolling Meadows searches with reason “Suspicious Protester Vehicle ‘No Kings’.” (RM Flock Record 7eafdb19-e6ee-4497-8671-93c65a30d855
) If that entry reflects a search of a protester’s vehicle because of its association with a demonstration, it raises serious First Amendment concerns. Rolling Meadows residents deserve to know whether the city’s Flock cameras were used to identify or track people connected to the “No Kings” protests—and why.
The First Amendment protects the right to speak, assemble, and protest. A government system that makes people’s movements searchable can chill those freedoms, especially when a search is tied to protest activity rather than a specific, legitimate law-enforcement need. A label like “suspicious” is not an explanation of wrongdoing. The public should be able to see the underlying records and understand who searched, what was searched, and what justification was given.
ABC Chicago reported that “No Kings” demonstrations were planned across Chicago and nearby suburbs, including Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect, Palatine, and Schaumburg, for October 18, 2025. The article described the demonstrations as peaceful events organized around political expression and noted that Chicago police said they would protect people exercising their First Amendment rights. ABC Chicago
That makes the reported search reason especially alarming. People should not have to wonder whether attending a rally—or driving a vehicle associated with one—could put them into a police surveillance database. Rolling Meadows’ own camera system captures vehicle and plate images, and the city says those images are retained for 30 days. The city has also acknowledged that it shares data with outside law-enforcement agencies. Daily Herald
The city must promptly disclose and independently review the relevant audit logs, including the search date, user, target vehicle, stated purpose, and any data sharing that followed. It should explain whether “Suspicious Protester Vehicle ‘No Kings’” was an actual search reason, who entered it, and what factual basis supported the search. The city should also preserve all related records and provide the public with a clear account of what happened.
Rolling Meadows should not keep a surveillance system in place while residents are left to guess whether it has been used to scrutinize political activity. The cameras create risks that safeguards and assurances have not resolved. The City Council should terminate the Flock contract and take the cameras down.