This Saturday, June 20, is International Surfing Day and Surfrider is inviting everyone to gather and paddle out to send a message: stop offshore oil drilling along California's coast.

The Surfrider Foundation's LA chapter and a coalition of community partners are hosting a paddle out at Tower 20 in Santa Monica from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is open to anyone who wants to show up, no boards necessary, and families and kids are welcomed and encouraged to join. The more, the merrier.

The threat that is bringing everyone together isn't new, but it has become very real in the past year. Offshore drilling has loomed over California for decades, with periodic federal pushes to expand leasing in our waters.…