While the calls for diversity and inclusion within the surf community came long before the murder of George Floyd, it was the paddle outs in solidarity against racism and police brutality that brought this issue to our founders’ attention. 

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How can one participate in a paddle out for Black Lives without actively ensuring that Black people are able to participate in the event? There are many barriers to entry when it comes to surfing. 

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The George Floyd Memorial Paddle Out organized on June 7th, 2020 was our first community call to action to ensure that our BIPOC community was able to engage with the surf community in ways that we have never experienced before. 

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With help from the community, most specifically Cowells Surf Shop, we were able to ensure that over 20 Black community members were able to join in and mourn the murder of George Floyd as a community.