Washington DC Representative Marion Barry is in hot water again - this time for insulting Asian-owned businesses in poor and its majority-black district.
The 76-year-old Democrat described the primary election victory of his visit on Tuesday, "We must do something about these Asians come in and open up business and dirty stores."
He added, "They should go. I'm going to say now. But we have African-American customers to take their place, too."
The 76-year-old Democrat described the primary election victory of his visit on Tuesday, "We must do something about these Asians come in and open up business and dirty stores."
He added, "They should go. I'm going to say now. But we have African-American customers to take their place, too."
Critics, including the Asian organizations, Mayor Vincent Gray and Council Chairman Kwame Brown, ripped notes Barry.
"I am deeply disappointed by the comments Council Member Barry," Gray said in a statement. "There is no room in this wonderfully diverse city for the comments much anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, disability or sexual orientation."
Barry - who served four terms as Mayor Washington, including six months in prison after videotaped smoking crack cocaine 1990 - an apology on Thursday.
"I want to express my deep apology to offended several members of the Asian community and the DC community," said the Associated Press. "I have a solid record of relations with Asian community."
He said he was wrong to zero in on a particular group, insisting he was referring to vendors who sell healthy food and employ locals.
But Barry does not back down from claims that some Asian shops and not "respect" their constituents.
"Ward 8 residents are spending their hard-earned dollars in these stores because they are the only stores in the next district, my constituents want respect, too," he said in a statement. "It is this less-than-star Asian-American businessmen in Ward 8 that my remarks were directed."
