Days after saying the District needed “to do something about these Asians coming in,” Marion Barry apologized for his comments hours after he defended the original remarks and blamed journalists for distorting them.
“I’m very sorry for offending the Asian-American community,” the Ward 8 councilman said in a post on Twitter Thursday afternoon. “I could and should have said it differently.”SClBIn a separate written statement, Barry added, “I am deeply apologetic for any harm that I have caused.”
Barry’s contrition came two days after the former mayor broadly criticized Asian-owned businesses operating in his Southeast Washington ward.
| Bouncebacks |
| Marion Barry has been an enduring figure in District politics for decades. |
| 1978: Elected D.C. mayor; wins third term in 1986 |
| January 1990: Videotaped smoking crack cocaine at Vista Hotel; charged with 14 counts, including perjury and cocaine possession |
| June 1990: Says he won’t seek run for re-election in 1990 |
| August 1990: Convicted of cocaine possession |
| October 1990: Sentenced to six months in prison |
| 1994: Wins fourth term as mayor of Washington |
| 2002: Abandons run for at-large council seat after police said they found traces of drugs in his car |
| 2004: Elected as Ward 8 councilman |
| 2005: Pleads guilty to federal tax charges; sentenced to probation in 2006 |
| 2008: Wins re-election as Ward 8 councilman |
| February 2009: Has kidney transplant |
| July 2009: Charged with stalking an ex-girlfriend; charges dropped days later |
| 2010: Censured by D.C. Council for his role in directing a contract to his then-girlfriend |
| Tuesday: Defeats five opponents in Democratic primary; makes insensitive comments about Asian business owners at victory party |
“We [have] got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops,” Barry said in remarks Tuesday night that were first reported by WRC-TV. “They ought to go. I’m going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too.”SClBBefore his apology, Barry defended his comments.
“It was taken out of context … the media ought to apologize,” Barry told reporters. “I’m not ever going to condemn a group of people or castigate any one group.”
Barry, though, continued to blast some Asian-owned businesses for not engaging with area residents.
“They’re not connected to the community,” said Barry, who as mayor created the District’s Office of Asian-American Affairs. “The whole attitude is angering me … I want the Asian people to come [to the area and act] right.”
Susan Au Allen, president of the U.S. Pan Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, said Barry’s comments alarmed her.
“It’s regrettably inappropriate,” Allen told The Washington Examiner. “We should be keeping our focus on how to make life better for everybody.”
Allen, whom Barry once appointed to the city’s Minority Business Opportunity Commission, said Asians sensed opportunity when they chose to open their businesses in Ward 8.
“They went in there to meet the demand,” Allen said. “They’re there to serve the needs of the residents.”
Roger Campos, the CEO of the Minority Business Roundtable, said Barry’s comments were disrespectful to all minority groups.
“That is totally insensitive. It’s kind of interesting because Asians and Hispanics are fueling the economy in business growth, and we ought to be inclusive of all minority groups, not just one,” Campos said. “He’s got one … focus, and that’s on African-Americans solely and no other groups.”SClBBut one Southeast Washington resident, Benjy Little, said he agreed with Barry’s criticisms of the businesses.
“I totally agree with Marion Barry,” Little said. “They don’t respect us as residents here in D.C.”
Examiner Staff Writer Naomi Jagoda contributed to this report.
