Surfers in Santa Monica, Calif., held a paddle out on Friday in memory of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by police in Minneapolis…
Surfers in Santa Monica, Calif., held a paddle out on Friday in memory of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by police in Minneapolis last week, joining thousands of surfers holding such events across the globe.
Video showed dozens of surfers paddling out and forming the shape of a heart with their surfboards after taking a knee on the sand at Santa Monica beach. It was just one of multiple paddle outs held this week with others taking place up and down the Golden State’s coast as well.
And it’s just the beginning, with paddle outs taking place around the world as surfers celebrate diversity and stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The peaceful show of unity comes as Floyd’s death has sparked global calls for an end to police violence and institutional changes to combat systemic racism.
Paddle outs are a Hawaiian tradition used to honor surfers who have died with groups paddling out and sitting together on surfboards, but in recent years they’ve been used to hold memorials for others as well as for protesting purposes. During the memorial, people are known to splash water, leave flowers and cheer.
