Environmental and democracy advocacy groups, students, and tribal leaders will be among those gathering on the sand at Santa Barbara’s West Beach to join hands in solidarity and send a unified message: No new offshore oil drilling.
The local event begins at 11 a.m., Saturday Sept. 26 just north of the Dolphin Fountain.
“Hands Across the Sand will take place in nearly a dozen communities across the state, bringing together thousands of Californians to join hands at the water’s edge and take one unified photo that shows the country that California strongly opposes offshore oil drilling,” organizers said.
“We want a future with clean energy, clean water, and the promise of a strong democracy for our community and nation,” they said.
“Saturday’s event will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act and the work of the Coastal Commission in protecting and fighting for our waters and coastline across California,” they said.
Scheduled speakers are Emily Engel, Santa Barbara Sierra Club; Spencer Jaimes, Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation; Linda Krop, Environmental Defense Center (EDC); Meagan Harmon, California Coastal Commission chair; and Ethan Maday, 805 Action and student activist
The event is hosted by the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Center, Fearless Grandmothers, Community Environmental Council, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, Surfrider Foundation, 805 Action, Clue SB, Unidos 805, 350 Santa Barbara, League of Women Voters, Last Chance Alliance, Sea League, Get Oil Out!, Indivisible Santa Barbara, and Women’s March.
“Hands Across the Sand brings together environmental and democracy advocates because protecting our coast from offshore oil drilling and protecting our democracy go hand in hand,” event organizers said.
“The Coastal Act itself began with voters, when Californians went to the polls in 1972 and chose to protect their coastline for everyone. That legacy is a reminder that our right to vote is one of the most powerful tools we have to shape our future,” they said.