Mr Carberry said watching the police officer, Derek Chauvin, kneel on Mr Floyd's neck until he lost consciousness and died made him "sick in the stomach".

The act, captured on video and shared online, has sparked both peaceful and violent protests all over the US against racist police killings.

Mr Carberry, of Bodalla, said if he lived in the US, he would be protesting too.

"My initial thought is that (protesting) is the best thing they could do," Mr Carberry said.

"The issues are here too. It doesn't matter if it's America or Australia ... they develop this.

"It's something that is taught.

"It's not the first time it's happened."

READ MORE: Racism, civil unrest horrifies American Aussies living on South Coast

He said it was important to break the cycle of systemic racism.

"This underlying issue has been going on for decades upon decades," he said.

"If they keep sweeping it under the carpet, the problem is never resolved.

"This is their way of making a statement that people need to listen and act.

"People need the right to be treated properly no matter what your colour is."

Mr Carberry said Indigenous Australians also suffered.

"The highest incarceration rate in the world are Indigenous people in Australia," he said.

"Police officers don't have to use their power in an aggressive manner."

Mr Carberry had been on international tours with other elite surfers, and said there was a message of respect in that community.

"You have all these professional surfers on the tour from all over the world, and every nationality is spreading that beautiful message of love and respect," he said.

"These are elite athletes paving the way in small communities.

"All the guys on tour, all of a sudden they aren't a small-town person, they become a wordly person.

"They don't make it about racist things they were taught growing up.

"You learn so much about beautiful people and culture in the world."

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