Lot Cop
Since around 2018, “Lot Cops,” as they are affectionately named, have been keeping a semi-watchful eye on parking lots around the so-called United States. As the surveillance state grows larger, the places we can escape seem to be shrinking. Once a place for drug deals and other state-deemed “illegal” activities, they are now monitored by cameras that can run night and day with little interference. Just a few weeks ago, I watched as a person physically fought off two Walmart employees as they tried to exit the store with an unchecked bag. Did they make it to their car? I thought as I saw another employee chase them down, would they even be safe? Would the cameras outside in the parking lot catch them leaving and cause more problems? For $35,000, companies can place these mobile surveillance trailers in parking lots or construction sites armed with lights, cameras, solar panels, and wheels. The lot cops impersonate the essence of the ever-watchful police state without actually having a cop presence. The colors I’ve seen them in are either construction site yellow or cold steel gray with flashing blue police lights. They make themselves known to hopefully deter the common “criminal” from grabbing anything they want. This is what the state has resorted to; this is another visible crack in the ever-failing system of capitalism. They are starting to realize that they can’t stop us all. I think there are a lot of ways we could counteract these ever-watching cameras, and I dare you and your friends to do the same and see what fun ideas we come up with.