A running list of events showing surfers in support of racial justice
By Dashel Pierson, Surfline George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020 – a senseless killing, which has spawned a worldwide surge in protests calling for racial equity. “My daddy changed the world,” Floyd’s six-year-old daughter, Gianna, said.
That he did.
Following Floyd’s unjust death at the hands of the Minneapolis PD, the demonstrations have reached all 50 States and numerous countries across the globe. And the outcry for justice has reached the surf world, with memorial paddleouts for Floyd – and other people of color who unlawfully lost their lives – popping up from San Diego to Santa Cruz, Bondi Beach to Bali, New York City to Senegal, and many more.
Recently, on June 3rd at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, a rally and paddleout was held in memory of the lives of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. San Diego native and African American action sports personality, Sal Masakela, was amongst the crowd in attendance. “This town raised me,” Masakela addressed the gathering from a bullhorn. “I’m so grateful when I look out and see all these faces. This is the first time I’ve smiled from the inside and out and I’m so grateful to see all of you who came out today.”
“For all of the surfers who happen to be black, we’ve experienced things in the surf community that would probably shock you,” Masakela continued. “It’s been very hard for people to realize that there are others who don’t look like them and yet, they love the ocean as much as they do. But as I look out into this crowd, I’m reminded of the community that showed me love and showed me how to navigate any of the challenges I faced against ignorant people – because that’s not what surfing is about.”
Surfline’s Ross Garrett, who was in attendance at the paddleout with his two young kids, meditated on the event:
“As a member of the North County surf community, the paddleout was a proud moment, and as Masakela described, filled my heart with joy to see how our community could rally together. As surfers, in times of mourning, we take to the water. In times of joy, we take to the water. And in times of anger and protest, we take to the water. For George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, we took to the water, together.” Other previous memorial paddlout locations include Maui, Santa Monica, and Santa Cruz, among others — but in the coming days and weeks, there will be many more paddleouts to honor Floyd, Taylor, Arbery, and the countless others who have been wrongly denied of life. For a running list of those, and when and where you can offer your support through paddling out, see below. Friday, June 5th
Inkwell Beach, Santa Monica, CA at 1pm — learn more here.
Pacifica Linda Mar, CA at 1pm — learn more here. Hermosa Beach Pier, CA at 1pm — learn more here.
Wharf 2, Monterey, CA at 1pm — learn more here.
Ditch Plains, Montauk, NY at 5pm — learn more here.
Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester, MA at 7pm — learn more here.
Long Sands Beach, York, ME at 6pm — learn more here.
Deep Hole, Matanuck, RI at 5pm — learn more here.
Sayulita Beach, Mexico at 5pm — learn more here.
N’Gor, Dakar, Senegal at 7pm — learn more here.
Saturday, June 6th
109th Street, Rockaway Beach, NY at 9am — learn more here.
Huntington Beach Pier, CA at 9am — learn more here.
Newport Beach Pier, CA at 9am — learn more here.
Bondi Beach, Sydney, AU at 7am — learn more here.
Sunday, June 7th
Pacifica Linda Mar, CA at 11am — learn more here.
Cowell’s Beach, Santa Cruz, CA at 6pm — learn more here.
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