St. Augustine surfers paddle for peace
Words & Photos | Darby Moore
So far, the year 2020 has felt like a test, with the only question on that test being: okay, now what? First, our nation fell victim to the grip of the coronavirus, a pandemic that hobbled much of the world in terms of health, social and financial stability. While governments around the world scrambled to control the spread of the virus, another issue reared its ugly head in the United States. A now viral, grizzly video depicted the death of a man who has now become a household name, George Floyd. The video shows Minneapolis policeman, Derek Chauvin, pinning his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly 9 minutes.
During the course of the video, Floyd’s body goes limp, he is no longer moving. Floyd died in custody.
The video of Floyd’s killing was circulated around the globe, spurring the call for racial justice, especially in regards to how people of color are treated by the police. Protesters and civil rights activists took to the streets to shed light on the issue, calling for the arrest of Chauvin and the three other officers, Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao, who responded to the call that ultimately ended in Floyd’s death. The call was made over the use of a $20 counterfeit bill by the victim.
This past weekend, our own surf community came together to unite and bond over the recent tragedies that have torn our nation apart.
Solidarity in Surfing
The morning of Saturday June 13, the south side of the St. Augustine Pier parking lot began to fill with familiar faces from our small town’s lineup. Dark clouds hung overhead as a quiet group of surfers began to carry flowers, signs, and soft top surfboards down to the sand in preparation of the morning’s paddle out.
The paddle out, organized by a core group of St. Augustine surfers, took on a fitting name: Solidarity in Surfing. The goal of the event was to create unity in our surfing community, to raise awareness about racial and social injustice, and to showcase our community’s support for those affected by violence and discrimination. After consulting with the Black Girl’s Surf Club, the group decided to make the mission of the paddle out simple: pay respect to the lives that have recently been lost to police brutality.
As the morning pushed on, the beach began to fill with surfers and families setting up to show their support of Solidarity in Surfing. After assembling a message of “Unity” spelled out with surfboards, local surfer Eric Hires took the lead in organizing the crowd. He introduced another local surfer and artist, Dustin Miller.
Miller stood before the crowd of over 100 supporters toting flowers, that were to be used as symbols of peace, barefoot with his son Kingsley by his side. He appealed to the crowd with an easy sense of humor, explaining how he is a father to two white children and two “brown” children. With a laugh, Miller explained that his son Kingsley had made the point that the color of his skin is, in fact brown, and not black. And just like that, a barrier was broken. Miller had opened a doorway to frank communication about race and ethnicity, repeating his sage assertion that two things that are created the same must be equal. Each human is created the same, so therefore we are all equal.
Miller then passed along the mic to Kasim Howard, a long-time Florida resident and former boxer who offered insight into his own dealings with discrimination as a black man. An imposing figure standing over 6’ tall, Howard called for unity in our society, speaking to his desire for love to be shown across racial lines. A few minutes into his speech, the sizable athlete began to choke up with tears. His mother came to his side, giving him a reassuring pat on the back while the emotion released from Howard.
Next, it was time for Howard’s mother to take the lead. As a mother to black men, she spoke to the uglier side of previous interactions between her sons and the police. She spoke of the days when her sons were arrested and cuffed when they were teens skateboarding in downtown St. Augustine, and to the day when her son had his vehicle searched without proper cause. Howard’s mother spoke with the heartache and passion that only a mother experiencing the hurt of a child can know. Her candor was met with applause.
Hires took to the front of the crowd one more time, to remind everyone on the beach that day of the lives lost. Together, the crowd took to their knees and repeated the names: George Floyd. Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. A moment of silence followed.
Then, we did what we surfers know best. We took to the water for a moment of unity. Paddling out with colorful carnations in hand, surfers swam in solidarity against violence and stood in support of peace. A circle formed, as surfers tossed their flowers in the air, hoots erupted, and for a moment, our small world came together.
How to Get Involved
One way that St. Augustine surfers are showing their support for racial equality by pledging to “not only use my voice, but my privilege and love to give back to my (St. Augustine) community.”. Surf Station employee and artist Addie Gibson organized a signup sheet and short list of programs that surfers can participate in to support this cause. This list includes: Big Brothers Big Sisters, St. Augustine Youth Services, Boys & Girls Club of America, Habitat for Humanity and St. Francis House. She encouraged those who signed up to improve the lives of the underprivileged in St. Augustine by either donating funds, becoming a mentor, or dedicating volunteer hours to these organizations.
