Congresswoman Barbara Honors Maudelle Shirek on the House Floor

 

 

 

“Let me first add to the chorus of voices sending well wishes and prayers to the city of Boson and all those touched by yesterday’s horrific tragedy. An incredible strength was on full display in the streets of Boston yesterday, when untold numbers of people, not just the police and firefighters, but volunteers, runners, and bystanders ran towards the explosions to try and help in any way they could, without regard for their own safety.

 

“As we learn the details of this attack, let us remember that what makes us strong as a nation is not our military might, but the care that we have for our fellow Americans, especially during the hardest times. This is a lesson I learned deeply from my friend and mentor, Maudelle Shirek. Maudelle died last week at the age of one hundred and one, and my heart and prayers go out to her friends and family.

 

“Maudelle was truly the "godmother of East Bay progressive politics."  The former City of Berkeley vice mayor and eight term council member was born and raised in Jefferson, Arkansas.  As the granddaughter of slaves, she was passionate about justice and civil rights.  After moving to Berkeley in the 1940’s, she became active in the anti-war movement, fought on behalf of unions, advocated for HIV/AIDS awareness, and helped organize the Free Mandela Movement.  She was also the first elected official in the United States to advocate for needle-exchange programs.

 

“During her tenure as a Berkley elected official, she was instrumental in creating multiple city commissions, including the Berkeley Commission on Labor. When she retired at 92, she was the oldest elected official in California at the time. In 2007, the Berkeley City Council renamed City Hall in her honor.

 

“She not only helped me get involved in politics but also inspired my predecessor, Congressman Ronald V. Dellums, to run for Congress. Her understanding of the importance of investing in people has won the solid support of voters in her district and across the country.

 

“I met Maudelle in the early 1970’s while I was a student at Mills College.  She widened my perspective on global politics during our travels around the world.   She reinforced the idea that we are all part of a global family and what happens here in the United States effects our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world and vice versa.   Since that time, Maudelle has been a personal friend, mentor, and confidante. 

 

“Maudelle was a health aficionado.  She was committed to educating seniors and the entire community on the benefits of healthy living.  She loved shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables and you would often find her cooking nutritious meals at the West Berkeley Senior Center.  We loved to walk Lake Merritt and the Berkeley Marina together where she would talk to me about acupuncture, natural remedies like cayenne pepper and warm water for colds, and the importance of exercise.

 

“Maudelle was a woman of great faith.  During the 70’s, we enjoyed attending the Church for Tomorrow (Formerly the Church for Today) together. This is where I realized that her passion for service and justice was driven by her commitment to what she called, ‘doing the Lord’s work on earth.’

 

“She was a woman who understood that she had to have a comprehensive agenda. It couldn't just be about a single issue like health care or seniors or peace and justice, but it had to be about being committed to making comprehensive and positive changes that seek to improve the lives of all Americans.

 

“Maudelle worked at the Berkeley Cooperative Credit Union. She engaged all of us in the 70’s in financial literacy. She urged me as a young single student to buy a house, because she reminded me over and over again that one’s equity in one’s home was the primary path to the middle class, and that  was how I could get the resources to take care of my kids and send them to school, which is a lesson we should teach our own children today.

 

“Several years ago, I tried to name the Berkeley post office after Maudelle. While this body has a tradition of supporting post office bills in a bipartisan way, Congressman Steve King from Iowa came to this floor and tried to tarnish her character.  He brought groundless accusations and this body voted against naming the post office, in my district, after this great icon.  I hope, one day in her memory, Rep. King will apologize to Maudelle and her family and the city of Berkeley for such an unfair and unwarranted attack. She was deeply hurt by it, but kept her head high and lived to see Berkeley City Hall named after her.

 

“Maudelle refused to accept arbitrary limitations. It is one of the things we all respect about her. Maudelle is one of the best examples of how one person can make a difference.  She was a fearless and inspirational woman who tirelessly fought to make this world a fair and just place. She spoke for the voiceless and was a staunch defender of our basic civil rights.

 

“I believe Maudelle’s legacy of over 70 years of service to Berkeley,  the East Bay, the nation, and the world will inspire many to speak for the voiceless and stand up for justice both here in America and across the globe.  I will deeply miss her wise counsel, love, and support.