[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 87 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1185]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A SALUTE TO BERKELEY CITY COUNCILMEMBER AND VICE MAYOR MAUDELLE SHIREK 
               IN HONOR OF HER 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2001

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor today to salute and celebrate 
the 90th birthday of a Berkeley legend, City Councilmember and Vice 
Mayor Maudelle Shirek.
  Maudelle was born the grandchild of slaves in Jefferson, Arkansas. 
Having been raised to be socially conscious and responsible, upon her 
arrival in the San Francisco Bay Area more than 50 years ago, she 
immediately plunged into the civil rights struggles of the day.
  One of the main issues of the post-WWII era was fair housing. 
Landlords often refused to rent to African Americans and new housing 
was built with discriminatory covenants not allowing Blacks to buy 
houses in certain areas. Maudelle was a key leader in the struggle for 
fair housing that culminated in California Assemblyman Rumford's Fair 
Housing Act.
  Maudelle also helped shape the political future of this country by 
persuading a young University of California graduate student named Ron 
Dellums to run for Congress. I worked with and was mentored and trained 
by Congressman Dellums. Without Maudelle's influence on Ron, I may not 
be in Congress today.
  Wherever she has worked, Maudelle has been an organizer. Serving as 
Director of the West Berkeley Senior Center, she simultaneously was on 
the State Executive Board of Service Employees International Union, 
Local 535. When Berkeley bureaucrats claimed she was too old to run the 
senior center, she ran for City Council and won. She is now serving her 
seventh term on the Council and has been re-elected by larger margins 
with each progressive election.
  Maudelle was the first Berkeley City Councilmember, and one of the 
first elected officials in the state, to take action against the AIDS 
pandemic by sponsoring educational materials, needle-exchange programs 
and housing for AIDS patients. When the county hospital tried to close 
its facilities serving AIDS patients, she chained herself to the doors 
to call attention to the plight of AIDS victims. As a result of her 
efforts, that facility remains open today.
  Maudelle has been an incredible influence in my life. Maudelle taught 
me that I was not only a citizen of the United States but a citizen of 
the world. While a student at Mills College, Maudelle helped me 
organize the Black Student Union's study mission trip to Ghana, Africa 
where she spent one month with the students. Her insight and counsel 
greatly enriched their experience.
  As a leader of the peace movement, Maudelle introduced me to the 
movement and shared with me her valuable and critical insight into 
United States foreign policy and international affairs. I have 
travelled with Maudelle to many countries and witnessed first hand her 
interaction with world leaders. They are inspired by her brilliance and 
her clarity of the issues affecting the global community.
  Maudelle continues to be persistent in the fight to reorder our 
national priorities. Reducing the military budget in order to improve 
the quality of life for people has been the cornerstone of her work for 
social, political and economic justice.
  Maudelle is a role model and a tireless worker for civil and human 
rights, peace and justice. I proudly join her many friends and 
colleagues in honoring Maudelle for 90 years of service and commitment 
to bettering the lives of her fellow citizens, community members and 
constituents.
  Congratulations Maudelle and thank you for your wonderful example and 
inspiration.