The Editor's Back Fence

Iowa's racist Congressman King has a History with Berkeley

Thursday January 17, 2019 - 03:04:00 PM

Iowa Congressman Steve King was recently dumped from all congressional committee assignments by the Republicans in the house after a spate of racist remarks. But this is by no means his first manifestation of undisguised racism.

Way back in 2005, he organized the defeat of a bill by Rep. Barbara Lee to rename the main Berkeley Post Office after former Berkeley Councilmember Maudelle Shirek , by a 215-190 vote in the U.S. House of Representatives .


For details, see Congress Rejects Shirek Post Office Honor By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR.

At the time, Congresswoman Lee hoped to try again, but it never happened. Is it too late? Berkeleyans almost lost the post office itself not long ago, and it’s still not safe. Perhaps the vigorous Save the Post Office folks could add naming the building after Maudelle to their list of concerns.