Paddle-out held in Avila Beach to honor civil rights leaders John Lewis and C.T. Vivian

More than a hundred Black Lives Matter supporters, NAACP members, surfers and friends gathered Saturday for a paddle-out in Avila Beach.

The paddle-out was to honor the deaths of U.S. Rep. John Lewis and his longtime friend and fellow civil rights activist C.T. Vivian, according to organizer and NAACP member Veronica Avery of Paso Robles. Lewis, 80, and Vivian, 95, both died July 17.

The event featured three speakers, retired teacher Jesus Perez of Atascadero, Don Perry of Atascadero and Kenneth Parrish, a chaplain from Paso Robles, who spoke of their poignant life experiences, Avery said.

“This was not a rally, it was a memorial. It was really a celebration of life,” Avery said.

A longtime surfer, Avery organized the paddle-out to memorialize the civil rights crusaders’ longtime service and contributions. She organized a paddle-out in June where more than 230 surfers participated.

“We will be holding more paddle-outs,” Avery said. “Listening to our speakers’ personal stories from the time they were children to the present tells me we’ve come a long way, but there’s still more work to do in dismantling bigotry and systemic racism in our country.

“Paddling out today in memory of our civil rights heroes C.T. Vivian and John Lewis was a real celebration of their lives and it brought us so much joy to honor them and the path they created for us.”

The event was also a fundraiser. The proceeds will go to R.A.C.E. Matters SLO County, and the NAACP San Luis Obispo.