Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) Issues Statement on the Passing of Maudelle Shirek
For Immediate Release: April 15, 2013
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370
Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) issued the following statement on the passing of Maudelle Shirek:
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Maudelle Shirek, and my thoughts 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 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.
“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 including Vienna, Prague, Cuba, and Czechoslovakia. 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. We also traveled to Calistoga many times because of her love for mud baths and their healing properties.
“Maudelle was a woman of great faith. During the 70’s, we enjoyed attending the Church of Tomorrow (Formerly the Church of 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.’ I will never forget the day she introduced me to the late Rev. Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams and I will never forget the impact that they both had on my life.
"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 across the globe. I will deeply miss her wise counsel, support, and love.”
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