Cal State East Bay Mourns the Passing of Former Congressman Ron Dellums

  • August 3, 2018

Cal State East Bay wishes to extend its heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of former Congressman and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums who passed away earlier this week at the age of 82.  

Rep. Dellums dedicated his life to public service and most notably, led the fight in U.S. Congress to withhold support from the Apartheid South African Regime.  His efforts later culminated in a memorable visit to Oakland by Nelson Mandela where Congressman Dellums introduced him to a capacity crowd at the Oakland Coliseum.

A social justice warrior through and through, Rep. Dellums received an honorary doctor of laws degree in 2000 from then California State University Hayward in recognition of his tireless advocacy on behalf of the residents of the East Bay and beyond. 

 He will be deeply missed, and we thank him for his many years of service to our community. 

Below is the moving address Congressman Dellums gave at the Oakland Coliseum in 1990.