Surfing for solidarity

MORE than 200 people paddled out at Anglesea’s Point Roadknight beach standing for unity and calling for an end of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Aireys Inlet’s Belinda Baggs was among the local organisers who pulled together a Solidarity in Surf event, to be part of the worldwide paddle-out movement instigated by American non-for-profit Black Girls Surf.
The Australian events not only stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in America, but also confronts the injustice of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people in Australia.
Ms Baggs said Saturday’s paddle out at 7.30am included speeches from Wiradjuri woman Jessi Muir, and Pacific Islander John Stephen, an acknowledgement to country, while observing social distancing regulations.

“We went out into the ocean and formed a big circle and we observed a minute’s silence in honour of George Floyd, as well as 432 Aboriginal lives lost in police custody in Australia since 1991.
“Unity is the only way to create real and lasting change. This is our shared responsibility.”
Organisers encouraged the community to continue to create positive change by learning culture from Common Ground Australia, supporting the protection of country with Seed Mob, and supporting the community with Geelong-based Strong Brother Strong Sister, and the Victorian Indigenous Surfing Association.
Meanwhile, Kathryn Feather organised a Black Lives Matter demonstration which took place on Saturday at noon at Aireys Inlet.
More than 50 people attended the event with placards protesting the treatment of Indigenous Australians.

“We displayed them to shoppers and passers-by and people in cars heading down the Great Ocean Road who tooted their horns in solidarity and gave us the thumbs up,’ Ms Feather said.
“People thanked me for organising the protest as they felt very strongly about the manner of the death of George Floyd in the U.S. which had made them reflect on the terrible treatment of our own Indigenous people. They felt the protest gave them an opportunity to show their concern.”