USF Building Renamed Because of Anti-Asian Racism of its Namesake

In what may be a first, the University of San Francisco has renamed a residence hall because of the anti-Asian views of its namesake. Last week USF removed the name of James Phelan, a former mayor of San Francisco, U.S. Senator, and USF alumnus.  Phelan was among the leaders of the Japanese exclusion movement that swept California after 1905, and famously ran for reelection to the Senate in 1920 under the slogan, "Keep California White." That has not happened: the matriculating class this year at Phelan’s alma mater is 27.9% white. USF President Paul Fitzgerald, S.J. expressed no desire to scrub Phelan from USF’s history, and sees a continuing relevance in his story: “Phelan used xenophobia to gain political office . . . It’s important that our community recognizes that the temptation to run campaigns built on racism and fear of immigration, which was typical of Phelan’s era, continues to exist around the world today.”

Comments

[Deep State Special Legal Counsel]

Good for you Father. You can be my Rabbi anytime. What an incredibly powerful message.