Santa Barbara protesters hold human chain against oil drilling

Hundreds of environmental advocates gathered at West Beach in Santa Barbara for the ‘Hands Across the Sand’ protest. The event served a dual purpose: protesting offshore oil drilling and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Act, which was passed in 1976 to protect natural resources and ensure public beach access.

During the demonstration, participants formed a human chain along the shore. Speakers at the event included Toni Cordero, a tribal leader and board member of the Environmental Defense Center, who addressed the importance of recognizing the unceded ancestral homelands of the Chumash peoples. Additionally, activist Ethan Maday spoke against the expansion of infrastructure for the oil industry.